Caskets, Coffers, and Boxes in the Middle Ages and Renaissance

Focusing on secular examples (this page is meant to provide suggestions for re-enactors and other such creatures), and organized them by materials & ornamentation; I've tried to group them by region, where applicable, to emphasize similarities between different items.

This page has been broken down into a group of separate pages:

• Carved Bone or Ivory
• Enamel
• Leather
• Metal
• Carved Wood
• Inlaid Wood
• Lacquered Wood
• Painted, Gilt, and/or Gessoed Wood
• Velvet-Covered Wood
• Wood with Metal Mounts
• Bentwood
• Illustrations with Caskets, Coffers, and Boxes
• Chests

In some cases, a purpose for the box is noted. There are a few examples in these pages which may have been used for liturgical or reliquary purposes too.

Also see the caskets and boxes bibliography and the Chests and Caskets Index.