Viennese enamel casket with lapis lazuli, silver and gemstones

The casket is of rectangular plan, set on four silver paw feet. The rectangular base of the casket is made from silver with raised enamelled floral decorations and mounted with enamel masks. There are three tiers of lapis lazuli above: the bottom tier is set with silver, pearls and precious stones, and enamel busts to each corner. The middle tier is mounted with silver arches with enamelled figures inside. Around the sides of the middle tier there are enamelled columns with silver and enamel capitals, each of which is surmounted by an enamelled figure or bust. The top tier is further mounted with silver and precious stones are there are bearded male figures at each corner. At the top of the casket there is a hinged lid, which is surmounted by a couple sitting on a bench, set on a lapis lazuli and silver plinth decorated with precious stones and enamelled silver floral decorations.

The casket was built by the Austrian maker Hermann Bohm, who was active in Vienna during the second half of the 19th Century. There are silver marks and maker's marks on the base and feet of the casket.