The Muslim West / Court Life

Ivory receptacles were gifts of exceptional value.

As well as showing-off their wealth, courtiers also lived an elegant and protocol-led life that included customs such as exchanging lavish gifts with intimate acquaintances, ambassadors and dignitaries from abroad. Symbols of the sovereign's power, such gifts were sometimes used to great effect as propaganda tools, as is evident from the dedications and royal icons that decorate them.
The court's demand for luxury items resulted in the creation of royal workshops and the development of trade in luxury goods in towns.

NameDynastyDetailsJustification
Ivory box from the Cathedral of BragaHegira 394 / AD 1004 and Hegira 398 / AD 1008Umayyads of Córdoba, Caliphate periodCathedral of Braga Treasury
Braga, Portugal
Valuable in themselves, these exquisite objects were designed to contain desirable gifts such as jewellery or aromatic substances so valued for cosmetic and grooming purposes.
NameDynastyDetailsJustification
CasketProbably shortly after hegira 350 / AD 961Spanish UmayyadVictoria and Albert Museum
London, England, United Kingdom
Ivory casket, Victoria and Albert Museum, London.
Pot from ZamoraHegira 353 / AD 964Umayyads of al-Andalus, Caliphate periodNational Archaeological Museum
Madrid, Spain
Valuable in themselves, these exquisite objects were designed to contain desirable gifts such as jewellery or aromatic substances so valued for cosmetic and grooming purposes.
NameDynastyDetailsJustification
CasketProbably after hegira 350 / AD 961Spanish UmayyadVictoria and Albert Museum
London, England, United Kingdom
Ivory casket, Victoria and Albert Museum, London.