Cassone

A courtly procession, perhaps for a wedding, is depicted in gilded stucco and pastiglia on the front of this cassone. Winged and armored putti hold up shields on either far end of the front panel. The shield on the viewer's left bears the Piccolomini family crest; the shield on the viewer's right, as well as the crests on each short end are unidentified. Although the cover has been completely redone and the gilding has been heavily restored, the rest of the cassone is authentic, and bears enough features in common with cassoni in the Thyssen-Bornemisza collection in Madrid and the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum in Boston to warrant the hypothesis that they came from the same Sienese workshop. As are all other objects in the museum, it still is displayed in its original place in the home, and thus contributes to the "authentic time capsule" ambiance. The museum collections include paintings by the Bellini brothers, Zenale, Giampietrino and others, sculptures, furnishings and furniture, majolica, glass, arms, armor, objets d'art in various media, wrought iron daily objects, scientific and musical instruments, tapestries and gilded metal objects.