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En forme de sarcophage, ce coffret présente, sur une face, les armes de France et un médaillon figurant la patronne de la corporation, sainte Anne éduquant la Vierge, et, sur l’autre face, une longue inscription insérée dans un cartouche, indiquant la fonction du coffret. Sur chacun des petits côtés, est sculptée une urne en ronde bosse surmontée d’une pomme de pin.
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This Alsatian chest includes every element of the vocabulary of the “Greek style.” It was made to serve as a masterwork, a traditional item whose execution was heavily codified and resistant to change. Kaeshammer, however, departed from the custom of presenting an armoire (wardrobe) for his masterwork by deciding to make this chest. On the other hand, he respected tradition by loading it with examples of virtuoso execution: curved cover, cut corners, staggered planes, and multiple motifs including Greek key pattern, gadrooning, wavescroll, garlands, beading, coin molding, etc. One side of this sarcophagus-shaped chest features the coat of arms of France and a medallion showing the guild’s patron saint, Saint Anne, educating the Virgin; the other side bears a long inscription in a cartouche describing the function of the piece. On each of the narrow ends is carved an urn in high relief crowned by a pine cone. The inside, secured by a lock masked by a rosette, contains several compartments, including a hidden one.
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