Ivory caskets

These ivory caskets were made in Sicily, which was occupied by the Arabs at the time, and were used to carry relics and other objects. Jacques de Vitry would have used them to send intaglios, antique cameos and other relics that he had collected on his peregrinations in the East. The creation of Christian states had greatly facilitated trade in the Mediterranean basin and Oignies and de Vitry were among the beneficiaries of this situation.