Chest Second half of the 16th century Italy, Rome Walnut; carved and gilt; 186 x 68 x 57 cm During the Renaissance a special place was occupied in Italian households by cassone (chests) in which brides' dowries were stored. Thy were usually made in pairs to stand next to each other in a room, so that the pictorial scenes could be read in the right order. The Hermitage pair shows the history of King Solomon. On either side of the coat-of-arms on this chest are scenes depicting the triumphal procession to mark the completion of the Temple, and the Queen of Sheba with King Solomon. The relief of the carving creates an opulent play of light and shade, and some of the details and the ground are gilded.