A 'Greatest Hits' of medieval myths on a casket | Gothic Ivories 1 | Curator's Corner S7 Ep4

Last time you visited the corner of curator Naomi Speakman, she walked you through the meaning and myths held in medieval bestiaries. The time before that she walked you through the meaning and myths held in medieval jewels and jewellery. In this episode, Naomi’s turns the tables, and walks you through the elaborate, Gothic ivory caskets that frequently held those same medieval manuscripts and items of jewellery. And much like those items, these caskets are also packed to the brim with medieval myths and stories. Many of the characters in these myths may be unfamiliar to you, but at least a couple will have familiar names and faces. However, the situations they find themselves in? not so much.
CONTENT WARNING:
Aristotle, will at some point, be saddled and ridden like a horse.

[@StarCrusher.]

Kind of the medieval equivalent of a star wars lunch box

[@carltheteacher5893]

More like Princess Lea's Jewellry box

[@geekdivaherself]

Star Wars lunch box! Hilarious! We don't know; the original Gothic ivories could have contained sweets for the wedding, so, kind of a lunch box! The theme fits very well since those type of lunch boxes often contain various scenes that were not necessarily directly connected to each other, nor put in order on the box. So really any fan base would do, but the Star Wars one really resonated with me!

[@cuber9320]

I had metal He-Man lunch box with thermos included when I was kid. Damn! I felt like a million bucks. 😂

[@dustin9691]

​@@geekdivaherselfthat's hilarious

[@5chr4pn3ll]

Very interesting. Perfect box for love letters I would think.

[@AbbieBrockhurst]

This casket helped me realise that castle anthrax in monty python and the holy grail was an actual reference to history!

[@marcobuncit7539]

Maybe Monty Python & his friends did research alot of real stuffs of those times. Except perhaps they mostly refered them for entertainment film than educational documentary purposes (which fair enoughs if only on the contexts their positions for holywood)

[@jaewok5G]

a castle full of virgin girls between the ages of 16 and 19 ½ ?

[@princecharon]

The Python crew are and were quite well-educated, so I suspect that a lot of what went on in the movie were direct (but funny) references to myth and history. Also, the film, if done as a play in a language known at the time, would probably have been pretty popular with medieval audiences.

[@StefanSte]

I feel like its the medieval version of a Disney box with all of the princesses on it. Meint to just represent all the famous storys and not to tell them.

[@like90]

I would love a book that just talks about these gothic ivories. The stories they hold are so interesting.

[@dr.andreasleofaulstich4125]

Medieval entertainment with a cliff hanger :-)

[@AliceAndriani]

I absolutely LOVE this series

[@eid8fkebe7f27ejdjdjduyhsvqhwu2]

As someone who isn't familiar with Arthurian legend (beside the media that is swept over from Britain to us) I am very delighted to find out that castle Anthrax and perilous bridge are based on real legend xD

[@TheCompleteGuitarist]

Love these sorts of things. Perfect for sharing with my students in story telling practice. Thanks.

[@Siska0Robert]

Alexander Romances are awesome. They are like medieval super-hero movies.

[@paillette2010]

Thoroughly delightful. I loved this so much!! Thank you!!! Please don't hesitate to do more.

[@britishmuseum]

Next week's episode is Naomi doing more!

[@sean659]

@@britishmuseum Where was it stolen from? Why are you Brits not feeling shame displaying stolen artifacts? You have a morality problem.

[@paillette2010]

@@britishmuseum Yay!!!

[@paillette2010]

@@sean659 nonsense

[@queefelizabeth4497]

@@britishmuseum Do you feel proud you looted all the artifacts?

[@susanwoodcarver]

This is fascinating. As a Woodcarver, even when we carvers carve the exact same subject, our individual style can be seen. The two caskets that I've seen you discuss (excellent, BTW) seem to be by the same artist. Is this possible, and are the pieces signed? Thank you!

[@cherry-vz5kx]

Great presentation Naomi,I am looking forward to seeing you next week.

[@KlausBeckEwerhardy]

Well, that has been quite interesting. Thanks for sharing it.

[@cstz]

Delightful video as always! Thank you!

[@Linda_W.]

My favorite video so far, Naomi. Thank you for sharing this wonderful item!

[@catoelder4696]

This was incredible! Thank you so much!

[@dmarks0630]

It's so fascinating. So many stories were told by this little box.

[@janepage3608]

Beautifully told, thank you

[@susiefairfield7218]

Thank You so much for sharing this ☺️💗

[@annwilliams6438]

Thank you. Brilliantly well done video. The outlines were helpful.

[@kittymervine6115]

thank you! You are a delight to listen to also. Great job. And glad you are helping to conserve these important objects.

[@robertwilkscomposer3726]

Spectacular, fascinating, humorous. The secular themes draw me in more than the religious ones.

[@madaug4389]

This was fantastic, thank you. I never knew about this, just amazing.

[@lorawaring883]

it's a lovely picture book, isn't it? Neat, thanks Naomi

[@mn4169]

fantastic, much enjoyed

[@emanuelecanepa6312]

Thank you for your fantastic explanation! Now I can "read" that beautiful and valuable casket.

[@findmeallways4422]

Absolutely brilliant 😄👍

[@lindaj5492]

0:25 “We can’t turn objects round to see all sides”. A slowly rotating stand - like you have in front of you - must be possible, surely? With large Images of each panel close by?

[@brianroberts5048]

This was so interesting. Thank you!

[@bobnewmanknott3433]

Thanks a wonderful vidio , informative and entertaining l an eagerly awaiting the next one

[@pattheplanter]

Were the metal fittings added much later? They look quite out of place. Perhaps something more private or precious was stored in it later and it was modified not to open easily.

[@lindaj5492]

It would be interesting to hear about the trade routes for ivory during that period (12th - 13th century).

[@palabrasmagicas]

Absolutely fantastic. A very enjoyable, engaging video, thank you!

[@orsettomorbido]

Fascinating! Also they are really beautiful!

[@classicambo9781]

Loved it!

[@Swishy_Blue]

It's like the most expensive fanfic commission. Bravo

[@britishmuseum]

It is. Also, based on your comment, you're going to love next week's episode with Naomi

[@sean659]

@@britishmuseum Why don't you return to its original owner thief.

[@queefelizabeth4497]

@@britishmuseum Do you feel proud you looted all the artifacts?

[@charlestownshend5655]

@@queefelizabeth4497 Perhaps they were legally bought and donated. Why assume they were looted?

[@claraconlan6557]

I would like to know where these boxes came from and was there much restoration? They’re so beautiful it doesn’t look like there was any restoration.

[@YohanSBach]

Thank you!

[@nibbleniks2320]

How lovely and interesting!

[@29lookingood]

Thank you. And what a beautiful piece 💙

[@kariannecrysler640]

Beautiful carvings! We’re other’s made with different materials? Great presentation thank you!

[@julilla1]

These are lovely. Thank you for sharing with us!

[@watchfan210]

Beautiful ivory object! Please show us more ivory art

[@sabrinatirabassi3529]

And that's why eventually Alexander ended up preferring Efestion's company...

[@Hugh7777]

Even back then, when they weren't yet endangered, what a terrible waste of elephants!

[@genadearagon8977]

Why can’t museums create displays that allow for such small objects to be turned? I realize such methods would be more costly than static display on a shelf, but surely there are lower-cost options or even ways to get interested or well-healed museum patrons and visitors to pay for the delight of turning objects (perhaps paying a pound to carry a device that enables displays to become interactive, for example).

[@brendadion7868]

There's a baby in the catapult...at the other end, the woman is clearly pregnant. Do you see the story depicted here?

[@nisaba5752]

🌟😁 you're right!!! In the first box,in the "jousting" scene; it's the far right panel where Naomi identifies the man kneeling with his hand on the lady's belly as a knight. The pregnant lady is holding the key :) I love it!!! All i see in the catapult basket is flowers,though.

[@craigbenz4835]

13th and 14th century ivory trade would seem to be a story in itself.

[@larryyoung7288]

Wonderfull explanation. However, my question is how did these large flat panels get carved from ivory tusk. Tusks of that time would have been much larger than we know today, but not so as to create these flat panels of ~21 cm. Even if they are separate panels how were they put together? Those metal straps would be insufficient. So I remain bewildered.

[@zapfanzapfan]

Surely someones treasured box of love letters.

[@jgsmile1331]

Terrible for the elephants. I love them more than the carvings. But information was interesting .

[@shiddy.]

do you think these were carved outside in the sunlight, or inside by fire light? is there an estimate for how many hours of work went into creating these carved boxes?

[@napalmholocaust9093]

Did they carve these box panels hard or soak them in weak Spirit of Nitre to soften them first temporarily? Do you have any Lunar Caustic black ivory items?

[@CrisSelene]

Wouldn't it make sense for all the images on that side of the casket to be of Gawain? If three are, why suddenly introduce an image of Lancelot with a borrowed attribute of Gawain, when it could be Gawain with a borrowed attribute of Lancelot?

[@yaelkamah9785]

Wonderful, both objects and storytelling. Why is the number written on the side of the box and not at it's bottom? It's like an ugly graffiti.

[@JJONNYREPP]

That time Aristotle was ridden like a horse, and other Gothic Ivory tales | Curator's Corner S7 Ep4 1718pm 23.6.22 nice corner, madam. p.s in keeping with the humour - refer to castle anthrax in the holy grail film - a disaster in relation to this ornate box depicting the parfait within the throes of amor. as for the folk crowding into the fount of eternal youth - they were probably show the door with the words: far queue!

[@maxlegermainalaman3883]

Very interesting ! Why not the frank runic ivory box for the next video ^^

[@britishmuseum]

We've already shot and edited next week's episode and **spoilers** it's sadly not the Franks Casket. However, will look into doing that one in the future as it is really cool. Thanks for the suggestion.

[@queefelizabeth4497]

@@britishmuseum Do you feel proud you looted all the artifacts?

[@davidchurch3472]

On the lid of the metal banded casket, the lady in the bottom right scene is pregnant. I can tell, I am a Doctor.

[@Vera-kh8zj]

I did not see/hear reference to the number in black on the box. Museum ID #? why not place it somewhere else?

[@JohnnyBlaze5100]

❤

[@voraciousreader3341]

As much as I love the artistry of these boxes, I’m afraid the conservationist in me can only see dead elephants. I _did_ listen the whole way through bc I obviously realize it was all a long long time ago! But elephants will soon be extinct if they aren’t left alone, not killed for Asian aphrodisiacs, or whatever crazy, unnecessary reason they want ivory. At least we have art as a remembrance for these.

[@golDroger88]

I know what you mean, I feel the same for European people.

[@jaschaeidam7469]

So, this is the medieval equivalent of a "Disneys-All-Star-Lunchbox". Unrelated, I'd like to offer a theory on their use...

[@glkification]

How much would these have cost to make a buy, and who would've been able to afford them?

[@ConradSpoke]

Did contemporaries refer to these as caskets, or is that modern nomenclature?

[@desirichert9394]

At 7:06 the "Fountain", Looks more to me like "a Womb", with the Ovaries at the top, and the Uterus as the large structure at the bottom. What do y'all Think?

[@mikebass3721]

The catapult is actually a trebuchet

[@scottleft3672]

See Phylus.

[@thewol7534]

An "idolatrous" relationship? Do you mean "adulterous?"

[@MomentsGap]

Were they originally painted or colored?

[@Pembroke.]

Absolutely inspiring. My question is how many hours did a craftsman or craftsman take to produce such quality pieces?

[@MichaelKingsfordGray]

Coward.

[@brandyjanik66]

A very old and very expensive comic book!

[@goodgame3374]

Who knew that the ancients were so kinky. Saddles, whips, bridles.

[@charlkriek4863]

Today we call that 'pony play'.

[@bigdog44pc]

Uh...how do you know that's Aristotle on the ivory carving?

[@pattheplanter]

Not many other old men being ridden like a horse in old tales.

[@bigdog44pc]

@@pattheplanter odd...but interesting.

[@MonkeyWhoWouldBeKing]

I can't believe medieval people straight-washed Alexander the Great smh

[@huubvelthuis8988]

yay history :D like and sub people!

[@jaewok5G]

wait, you're saying there's some sort of sexual under text to a knight slaying a unicorn sleeping in a virgin's lap? … I don't see it.

[@VincentGroenewold]

Mmm, some of the explanations seem a bit off when looking at what is depicted I think (though I haven't studied it at all of course :) ). The panel on the right with the knight kneeling, seems to care for her, she seems pregnant. Which would go nicely with all the flowers everywhere. The other side, with the reflection in the water, the reflection looks like it has a beard, while the one in the tree doesn't (possibly an older version of him?). Marvelous object though, wonderful to be able to see a story that old.

[@rickb1973]

Whoops....Tristan and Isolde...idolatrous/adulterous....tricky little malapropism

[@pattheplanter]

I noticed that as well. It is believed to be based on a very old Celtic story, so perhaps they were idolatrous as well. 😃

[@rickb1973]

@@pattheplanter Quite right, almost certainly they were....depending on your point of view, of course!

[@BlueBaron3339]

If it was indeed Alexander he'd more likely been interested less in a Phyllis than in a Phil. 😉 Nifty video!

[@gregorioeduardo]

About the unicorn and the sexual allegory: Why not delve into the details like you've done with the other panels depictions? Curious minds want to know (at least this mind does).

[@TheTomac]

are you really not going to address. that these mans are lancing one another with bizarre animalistic fists on the ends of their weapons? was this the equivalent of a boxing-glove-tipped- arrow?

[@Egilhelmson]

Yes, these were lances of peace (the only type used today) as opposed to lances of war (designed to pierce the enemy jouster’s armor and, ideally, kill him). Obviously, the second type were only used in battle or during judicial combats.

[@MrDizzyvonclutch]

Did you say what the baskets are for? A rat maybe??

[@barbarachurchill5304]

I am sad to see these enticing ivory caskets because I worry that the demand for ivory may increase today. Killing an elephant for its tusks is already a huge problem. Let’s not give more demand for ivory.

[@AnyoneCanSee]

Is it just me or does the "fountain of youth" look a little like a woman's ovaries and perhaps even her uterus? Obviously, with medieval medical knowledge. On the other side, the "conquered" woman in the assault on the castle of love is holding a key and is clearly pregnant. Perhaps the allegory is the same as that of Shakespeare's sonnets in that the only key to eternal life is through childbirth. The only way we can live on is through love and having children. I think the Arthurian legends are perhaps a knight indicating what he would go through for the hand in marriage of the woman he loves. So the box perhaps was an offer of marriage. It seems to be a man going through the stages of winning the hand of a woman and the key to her heart. Or I could just be a romantic old fool.

[@MichaelKingsfordGray]

Coward.

[@woolfoma]

ye old' kinke

[@j.lietka9406]

Naomi I think you are hot! 🤓🌹👸 I am not sure, but did Albrecht Durer do any of the drawings used for the intended patterns that, with a master carver, became the finished images? Does the museum you work at have an ivory chess set (or pieces)? Thank you

[@patriciatoomingtheplantpar2558]

"CASKET" funerary box, coffin, casket, suggests death, like something dead or broken was held within. That's what we know as a casket now. English is a strange language. I hate that each item represents the slaughter of an innocent creature😢 So to me these are, in deed... caskets😓

[@MyMy-tv7fd]

trebuchet, not catapult

[@britishmuseum]

As this depiction is on ivory, and quite small at that, there was no verifiable way of measuring the distance a 90kg stone would travel if launched from said apparatus.

[@CrowSkeleton]

@@britishmuseum Surely that does make it a trebuchet, then, said engines being infamously unpredictable in their ranging... (I'd thought it was a mangonel by size/breadth of frame, being attended by one person and not catapult-shaped, but still, I think they're right - you can see the counterweight and everything)

[@akdavid710]

Did you seriously say "idolatrous" when you meant "adulterous"? I can assure you there is no idolatry whatsoever in Tristan and Iseult. LOL

[@britishmuseum]

No she didn't. This was an unfortunate. although admittedly quite funny, relic from the original autogenerated captions. So that one is on us not Naomi. Thanks for flagging, it's now been corrected.

[@akdavid710]

@@britishmuseum HA HA NOPE. 07:36 it's very unambiguous. She definitely says "idolatrous relationship." LOLOLOLOLOLOL

[@JohnyG29]

@@akdavid710 Grow up

[@timo7062]

"Great Britain" or "the greatest thief in history" They must finally give back those looted artefacts, it's ridiculous how they welcome thousands of tourists in their museum daily to proudly present the stolen African and asian artefacts. That's pure criminality!