Case for tortoise boat
1570 - 1590. Velvet, Leather, Wood, Metal.Room 079B
This case takes the form of the vessel for which it was made, the Tortoise boat (O78). The case is one of the most interesting in the whole collection. It is very unusual because of its decoration and the presence of four embossed gold oval medallions representing classical-type male heads. Known as “cameos”, such adornments had been fashionable in Italian bookbinding since at least 1484. Arbeteta found a parallel example at Skokloster Castle in Bålsta, near Stockholm, inv. 97, created for a vessel that was attributed by Distelberger to the Miseroni workshop. Case lined externally in leather with tooled decoration of embossed gold oval medallions representing male heads of the classical type, and internally with green velvet. Metal clasps.
Arbeteta Mira, Letizia, El tesoro del Delfín: alhajas de Felipe V recibidas por herencia de su padre Luis, Gran Delfín de Francia, Madrid, Museo Nacional del Prado, 2001, p.85-89; 197
