A medieval casket that breaks the fourth wall | Gothic Ivories 2 | Curator's Corner S7 Ep6

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  • Опубліковано 29 чер 2022
  • Last week curator Naomi Speakman introduced you to a Gothic, ivory casket packed to the hinges with different medieval myths and legends. It was, if you will, a “greatest hits” casket. Today, Naomi will show another of these medieval caskets. If the previous one was a greatest hits, this one’s a concept album. A single myth told across the entire body of the casket. And for all you Deadpool fans, there’s a healthy dose of fourth wall breaking.
    CONTENT WARNING:
    Deadpool does not feature in this video (medieval, fan-produced variant or otherwise). However, there is a splash of comic book towards the end.

КОМЕНТАРІ • 324

  • @orsettomorbido
    @orsettomorbido Рік тому +367

    "The chatelaine is filled with shame, and she dies"
    What a mood.

    • @iambiggus
      @iambiggus Рік тому +13

      Starting to wonder if this is where George Lucas got his inspiration

    • @ecurewitz
      @ecurewitz Рік тому +20

      The only one who should be full of shame is the duchess

    • @dan13ljks0n
      @dan13ljks0n Рік тому +3

      Yeah, that kinda happens alot in ancient stories.

    • @PhilJonesIII
      @PhilJonesIII Рік тому +6

      @@dan13ljks0n Not so very different today: For certain things, even the suggestion of wrongdoing, even less, actual proof, can bring careers and reputations to ruin.

    • @sean659
      @sean659 Рік тому +1

      Did you know most of the artifacts in the British Museum were stolen?

  • @rageagainstthebath
    @rageagainstthebath Рік тому +318

    This should literally be printed as a tiny 4-page comic book and distributed in the museum

    • @agerven
      @agerven Рік тому +10

      That would be a good idea, and i would most certainly order it on-line.

    • @sandie157
      @sandie157 Рік тому +4

      Great idea. Also made available electronically .

    • @mortalclown3812
      @mortalclown3812 Рік тому +2

      Excellent notion. I'm all in.

    • @lilaralston6314
      @lilaralston6314 Рік тому +3

      There is a medieval manuscript in the Hargrett Rare Book Library at UGA that we used to call "The Spanish Comic Book". It has very much the same feel. IIRC it illustrates miracles performed by a statue of the Virgin and Child, including a cure for impotence (delivered by a beam of light thru the bedroom window) and the taming of a runaway bull.

    • @queefelizabeth4497
      @queefelizabeth4497 Рік тому +1

      UK has no shame displaying stolen artifacts.

  • @robertmcgovern8850
    @robertmcgovern8850 Рік тому +250

    "...and the figures are looking at each other in astonishment."
    Well, you would, right? You are working your way thru an estampie, sweating a little in your best woolen gown and wondering if there are any more of those little honey cakes, and suddenly your host lops of his wife's head right there in front of you. There must be a proper court etiquette for this sort of thing, but you've only reached Chapter VII of Lady Griselda's Book of Manners and Morals and she never mentions any of this!

    • @zaker721
      @zaker721 Рік тому +38

      Lady Griselda, you have failed us! If ever we needed guidelines for how to conduct ourselves it is NOW! By the way, who got the dog?

    • @robertmcgovern8850
      @robertmcgovern8850 Рік тому +63

      @@zaker721 Oh *here* it is under Chapter XII, "Red Weddyngs and Other Aukward Scenes." It says "Make ye an excuse of hedache and retyre to thine room. Bar full well thy door."

    • @nokomarie1963
      @nokomarie1963 Рік тому

      @@zaker721 The Duke. He could become a reformed dog.

    • @samw5767
      @samw5767 Рік тому +6

      @@zaker721 Yes, indeed. Who got the dog?

    • @pirjo3685
      @pirjo3685 Рік тому +1

      😂😂😂😂

  • @Mikkelltheimmortal
    @Mikkelltheimmortal Рік тому +98

    My favorite part of the 4th wall break is the dukes left hand positioned in a way to seem as if he were leaning against a window or an imaginary wall

    • @scottbilger9294
      @scottbilger9294 Рік тому

      More like breaking the first wall

    • @mithramusic5909
      @mithramusic5909 Рік тому

      @@Spearca that's still a fourth wall break, because it draws attention directly to the fourth wall. If you make the audience aware of it, that's it. That's the whole thing.

  • @draigaur9543
    @draigaur9543 Рік тому +18

    the skill of the carvers is amazing

  • @sharonkaczorowski8690
    @sharonkaczorowski8690 Рік тому +14

    The artistry is amazing…I can see why it’s your favorite. The artist clearly had a sense of humor!

  • @penihavir1777
    @penihavir1777 Рік тому +10

    I see both times that the duchess talks to her husband privately, she’s doing so sitting on their bed, and has raised her dress to expose her leg, presumably feigning a show of fidelity to the Duke (I love you, I didn’t want him”).

    • @mnossy11
      @mnossy11 Рік тому

      That’s actually the duke showing his leg lol

  • @cammielinford9919
    @cammielinford9919 Рік тому +11

    “The dog watching on them curiously” 🤣🤣🤣 yep, pretty relatable

  • @nicholasblanton8464
    @nicholasblanton8464 Рік тому +11

    In the last panel, what looked like trumpets now look a bit like shawms, a "free reed" instrument. It's handy to be able to have two, so one musician can catch his/her breath while the other plays a phrase. Breton bombarde players use this technique so much that it's also become characteristic when two singers are doing the music.

  • @gretchenchristophel1169
    @gretchenchristophel1169 Рік тому +7

    "In days of olde, when knights were bolde...and knighthood was in flower"
    Thanks for a great explanation, that I am sure I would have never figured out.

  • @rhondahuggins9542
    @rhondahuggins9542 Рік тому +26

    I understand why it's your favorite!! There are so many artistic techniques that most of us would characterize as contemporary. Wondrously brilliant and dramatic!🤩❤ Thank you for sharing it!

  • @ramona14220
    @ramona14220 Рік тому +6

    If you thought that story was going to have a happy ending you just hadn't been paying attention.

  • @Jmoneypoprocks
    @Jmoneypoprocks Рік тому +13

    I was captivated for the entire length of the video. Great work!

  • @MorwenWhyte
    @MorwenWhyte Рік тому +8

    Lovely to see every now and then that there were great designers in all ages with similar ideas no matter what technologies were available to them. Tools change, ingenuity remains.

  • @PeaceLoveHonor
    @PeaceLoveHonor Рік тому +16

    Wow, really interesting, especially with the one character leaving the set boundaries of his panels. Thanks for showing/explaining it!

  • @lzkovacs
    @lzkovacs Рік тому +25

    brilliant storytelling, thank you!

  • @ruralsquirrel5158
    @ruralsquirrel5158 Рік тому +38

    Great and fascinating story. The little French humourous touches on the comic cover were brilliant. Merveille Comics.... 3 Denier, 1288AD

    • @JJONNYREPP
      @JJONNYREPP Рік тому

      A medieval casket that breaks the fourth wall | Gothic Ivories 2 | Curator's Corner S7 Ep5 2246pm 30.6.22 i'd be a really good medieval story teller... more absurd medieval story telling as opposed to sara millican's more uncouth style. uncouth is a medieval style, though...

  • @mistyroller3470
    @mistyroller3470 Рік тому +19

    Times change but humanity doesn't. We'll always love beautiful, clever, entertaining things.

  • @apcolleen
    @apcolleen Рік тому +6

    Definition of chatelaine
    1a: the wife of a castellan : the mistress of a château
    b: the mistress of a household or of a large establishment
    Definition of castellan
    : a governor or warden of a castle

  • @watchfan210
    @watchfan210 Рік тому +2

    Please continue the ivory presentations… Learned so much and enjoyed the beautiful objects

  • @megansfo
    @megansfo Рік тому +68

    Amazing story! And as an artist myself, amazing that the tale fits onto this small box. Of course I wonder, what became of the little dog?

    • @paulaclark9729
      @paulaclark9729 Рік тому +44

      The Duke adopted him and they lived happily ever after. The only problem was he kept bringing strange men home for him to sleep with, which his new wife didn't appreciate.

    • @spiralpython1989
      @spiralpython1989 Рік тому +4

      @@paulaclark9729 tee hee hee! Laugh Out Loud!

  • @lorettabertoli3736
    @lorettabertoli3736 Рік тому +14

    I NEED to see this casket next time I can come to London and visit the British Museum...and I agree with other comments here, this should be literally made into a comic strip and distributed in the Museum,it's awesome!

  • @Getcakedieyoung23
    @Getcakedieyoung23 Рік тому +7

    So much effort in one small item wow

  • @PieterBreda
    @PieterBreda Рік тому +5

    Great workmanship. That is stunningly well made. That artist was very talented

  • @queenbodicea
    @queenbodicea Рік тому +3

    Thank you so much Naomi for sharing. I never would have guessed the story by simply looking at the engravings. You presented a beautiful but tragic story. I love it when things are explained like this!

  • @trinitytwo14992
    @trinitytwo14992 Рік тому +31

    Great story, well said. Such a lovely artistic piece, they had incredible craftsmen and artisans. This is priceless, as a sculptor myself I can tell you I am in awe of its beauty. Thank you.

    • @dan13ljks0n
      @dan13ljks0n Рік тому +4

      Even in ivory, this had to have taken quite awhile to make. The work on the faces is excellent!

  • @stevemyers8330
    @stevemyers8330 Рік тому +13

    Well told! Great job, Naomi!

  • @DannyRandomz
    @DannyRandomz Рік тому +20

    Absolutely fantastic video! Very well explained and a really interesting story and the quality of the artistry is just amazing.
    Also really intriguing to see the fourth wall break which in contemporary cinematic storytelling is treated as something newfangled, like Deadpool's famous 4th wall breaks. Yet much like the millenia The Hero's Journey has been a touchstone of storytelling, breaking the 4th wall clearly goes much further back than realised.
    Not forgetting the leaning around the border is very similar to what Deadpool and Gwenpool do within their Marvel comics, when they reach beyond the panel or move between/in front of them.
    Edit: "It's like a medieval comic strip..." - This is why I should finish the whole video BEFORE posting a comment, whoops 😅 Nice touch with the comic and the superheroey music 🥲

  • @SigneofHorses
    @SigneofHorses Рік тому +2

    The details like the buttoned sleeves on the dresses .. so wonderful to see this walk through

  • @jorneichhorn3397
    @jorneichhorn3397 Рік тому +7

    What a great story to be revealed only by scientific research. If this is known, certainly it is worth a follow-up episode who gave the order to manufacture the casket and to whom it was given on what purpose. One might assume there is hidden another great story.

  • @pufthemajicdragon
    @pufthemajicdragon Рік тому +20

    That comic book feature at the end was really well done! It's a wonderful metaphor for the kind of storytelling on the casket itself, but it also brings the story to life in a modern aesthetic. Can we, uh, buy that comic? If you printed the actual comic, with additional "behind the scenes" section at the end with photos of the casket and details about its provenance and the origin of the story, I would love to have a copy!

  • @PopeLando
    @PopeLando Рік тому +10

    It doesn't break the fourth wall, it breaks one of the existing three walls, specifically the one to the left. I kept looking for where one of the characters was, say, winking at us and looking directly out of the picture.

  • @MrChristiangraham
    @MrChristiangraham Рік тому +2

    This is quite wonderful, Naomi - and I loved your retelling of it. Thank you!

  • @InThisEssayIWill...
    @InThisEssayIWill... Рік тому +37

    How interesting! Very Romeo and Juliet esk... Though I suppose given the time frame it's more likely that Shakespeare modeled his story after this one!

    • @b43xoit
      @b43xoit Рік тому +10

      Both could have come from a common older thread.

    • @sophelet
      @sophelet Рік тому +1

      @@b43xoit Ovid's tale of Pyramus and Thisbe is a much older version of the story we are familiar with through Romeo & Juliet. It is inserted in the theater scene in Shakespeare's play "Hamlet." Remember there is a character called "Wall"? He's the wall between the tragically separated lovers.

    • @b43xoit
      @b43xoit Рік тому +1

      @@sophelet Yes, I remember that Wall was a character. Play within the play.

    • @tulliusexmisc2191
      @tulliusexmisc2191 Рік тому

      @@sophelet Hamlet does have a play within a play, but it's not that one. Pyramus and Thisbe is the play within A Midsummer Night's Dream.

  • @TheSaneHatter
    @TheSaneHatter Рік тому +16

    That "breaking through panels" image is one that actually HAS been used in latter-day comic strips, like Will Eisner's "The Spirit" or even "Nancy."

  • @mojosbigsticks
    @mojosbigsticks Рік тому +2

    Without context it's another box. With the story - wow! Thank you so much.

  • @465maltbie
    @465maltbie Рік тому +3

    Amazing, I do love the Dukes journey through the panes, so glad you pointed it out. Charles

  • @paillette2010
    @paillette2010 Рік тому +6

    Ms Speakman: once again many thanks!!!!
    I was on Mediiev-l for years, read a lot about court, and the stories of knights (being a fan of heavy hunters), but this is just pure delight.
    Of course today everyone wants to know: what happened to the dog?
    🤭

  • @kingofhearts826
    @kingofhearts826 Рік тому +2

    Wonderful story and interpretation, wonderful designing and masterful ivory carving! Thank you very much for the great story telling!

  • @joanhamilton2651
    @joanhamilton2651 Рік тому +1

    It would be great if all carved caskets shown in museums would have the story told in detail like this one was. I loved it. Thank you

  • @JoeLeasure
    @JoeLeasure Рік тому +2

    Absolutely fascinating. Excellent presentation too. It really opens up the richness of the item.

  • @hannahr5997
    @hannahr5997 Рік тому +2

    What a wonderful and beautiful ways to tell a story! The artwork is amazing, I wish things where still made with such an detailed skills

  • @Alefiend
    @Alefiend Рік тому +52

    Do caskets like this follow a particular format? That is to say, does the story always start in the same panel position and flow predictably to the final panel?

    • @composaboi
      @composaboi Рік тому +1

      No. There aren’t a whole lot of story telling caskets and I’m pretty sure none of them follow the same format. I may be wrong though

  • @chubbymoth5810
    @chubbymoth5810 Рік тому +14

    Making an object come to life. Brilliant!

  • @Linda_W.
    @Linda_W. Рік тому

    I really love these types of decorative boxes, and the way you present this one. Great job, Naomi!

  • @lindaj5492
    @lindaj5492 Рік тому +23

    I really wish you’d talked about the ivory! What size of tusk would have been required for such large panels? How would ivory have been sourced in those times?

    • @nigellee9824
      @nigellee9824 Рік тому +3

      Yes, very good point....I wondered that.

    • @user-ix1rp9ff3p
      @user-ix1rp9ff3p Рік тому +1

      basically imported

    • @klhaldane
      @klhaldane Рік тому +1

      My guess wouldbe elephant tusks from across the Mediterranean, moved north through the hands of multiple merchants.

    • @bteuben-faber8215
      @bteuben-faber8215 Рік тому +1

      See the first video about this subject! Love from Holland! 🌷

    • @davidevans3227
      @davidevans3227 Рік тому +1

      thankyou, i wondered about the ivory too, i'm going to check out the first video as suggested..

  • @jasperlawrence5361
    @jasperlawrence5361 Рік тому

    this channel is my "Find of the Month", thank you for another great video.

  • @johnshoosmith
    @johnshoosmith Рік тому

    Fantastic! You did a fantastic job highlighting with graphics throughout.

  • @kev3d
    @kev3d Рік тому +3

    Plot twist: The Dog masterminded the whole thing.

  • @Tysto
    @Tysto Рік тому +5

    But what happened to the dog? The dog??

  • @VincentGroenewold
    @VincentGroenewold Рік тому +3

    It's lovely to know about stories from history, great stuff!

  • @annazaman9657
    @annazaman9657 Рік тому +1

    Such gorgeous carving. What a skill the maker must have had

  • @gwenwells2286
    @gwenwells2286 Рік тому

    Really fascinating how much information is one one little box. Love this.

  • @robertblankenship5000
    @robertblankenship5000 Рік тому

    WOW! This is remarkable! And how wonderfully told by this amazing young lady. Bravo!

  • @aSpottedJoan
    @aSpottedJoan Рік тому

    This is terrific!! Thanks so much for sharing it.

  • @peterbathum2775
    @peterbathum2775 4 місяці тому

    Thank you for sharing your time with us here.

  • @TheGrenadier97
    @TheGrenadier97 Рік тому +1

    The Medieval Ages in Europe were such interesting and important but misunderstood times in History. I hope that with time the basic ordinary prejudices against it are forgotten to reveal
    ignored truths.

  • @moniqueengleman873
    @moniqueengleman873 Рік тому

    What a beautiful box! All hand carved. Outstanding

  • @rodeastell3615
    @rodeastell3615 Рік тому

    Excellent ... thank you for posting.

  • @lynnblack6493
    @lynnblack6493 Рік тому

    What a great job. Interpreting wonderful, ancient artifacts. Such stories...❤

  • @ARodLateKnight
    @ARodLateKnight 3 місяці тому

    What a great story, on an astonishingly detailed piece of art.

  • @umwmusic1598
    @umwmusic1598 Рік тому

    incredible. Thank you!

  • @cherry-vz5kx
    @cherry-vz5kx Рік тому +1

    Fantastic narration Naomi.What a great but tragic story.

  • @agerven
    @agerven Рік тому

    Very nice, and surprisingly comic book-like. i really love the scene where the duke pops from one picture to another, and i wonder whether more of these tales are immortalized in similar ways.
    Very nice presentation, shedding a truly different light on medieval persons.

  • @balaclavabob001
    @balaclavabob001 Рік тому +1

    I really enjoyed that . Thanks .

  • @adrienneclarke3953
    @adrienneclarke3953 Рік тому

    Well presented. Thank you

  • @bettygreenhansen
    @bettygreenhansen Рік тому +4

    Wow!!! That was amazing….
    A medieval comic strip!!! 🤣

  • @colinfew6570
    @colinfew6570 Рік тому +1

    this series is fantastic!

  • @iseriver3982
    @iseriver3982 Рік тому +1

    -great first and second act, what's going to happen in the finale?
    -everyone dies.
    -what, why?!
    -I dunno. Greeks thought it was OK.

  • @yaa63
    @yaa63 Рік тому +2

    Thank you soooooooooooooooooo much...beautifully explained!!

  • @Lewisa369
    @Lewisa369 Рік тому

    So beautiful the box and the story.

  • @orsettomorbido
    @orsettomorbido Рік тому

    What an amazing work of art!

  • @MorodokClay
    @MorodokClay Рік тому

    This sculpture is really meaningful and luxurious, if your hand carves it.

  • @melanietoth1376
    @melanietoth1376 Рік тому

    So wonderfully carved ♡

  • @artemkras
    @artemkras Рік тому +1

    One of those nice little medieval stories where everyone dies

  • @patytrico
    @patytrico Рік тому

    Beatiful piece and interesting story :) Thank you for share it with us!

  • @nigelmansfield3011
    @nigelmansfield3011 Рік тому

    I know the romance of course. What a court the Burgundian one was. A beautiful exposee and description. Thank you.

  • @petergregory7199
    @petergregory7199 Рік тому +1

    Good story. Loved the dancing. I suppose the point was the chatelaine was really virtuous, which is why her sense of shame was so strong that it killed her. Somehow I can’t see that happening today. And yet shame still a powerful weapon used on social media.

  • @SuperNovaSirius
    @SuperNovaSirius Рік тому

    Beautiful and amazing.

  • @harbourdogNL
    @harbourdogNL 10 місяців тому

    This is brilliant.

  • @14rnr
    @14rnr Рік тому

    Thank you Naomi.

  • @nisaba5752
    @nisaba5752 Рік тому +1

    Thank you!!!

  • @piedwagtailrameau
    @piedwagtailrameau Рік тому +1

    Amazing story telling!!

  • @54mgtf22
    @54mgtf22 Рік тому

    Love your work 👍

  • @2bit8bytes
    @2bit8bytes Рік тому

    Beautiful!

  • @galeocean4182
    @galeocean4182 Рік тому +1

    so interesting! thank you

  • @windhorse4straveler647
    @windhorse4straveler647 Рік тому

    Amazing carving and wonderful story.

  • @aq9714
    @aq9714 Рік тому

    I love the stories of these caskets! The lesson is be kind or you may lose your head!

  • @kennethiman2691
    @kennethiman2691 Рік тому

    Fascinating!

  • @monicacallesarenales5865
    @monicacallesarenales5865 Рік тому

    Fascinating!!

  • @Edie45
    @Edie45 2 місяці тому

    Like most fairy tales this is a macabre story. What a wonderful experience to work with such glorious artworks.

  • @susanne5803
    @susanne5803 Рік тому

    It's really like a 3D comic! Thank you very much!

  • @pidginmac
    @pidginmac Рік тому

    Quite wonderful and ancient yet new!

  • @PossumMedic
    @PossumMedic Рік тому +1

    "Curiously watched on by the dog" Pets... 🙄 always trying to catch a free show! 😂

  • @BiblicallyAccurateToaster
    @BiblicallyAccurateToaster Рік тому

    The artist that made this was very skilled

  • @gidi1899
    @gidi1899 Рік тому

    Gave me a chill, :)
    At the moment, I cant think of a better way to tell a story or even a better story, with a box.
    It's like a book that surpassed many written ones even now.

  • @Gali80f
    @Gali80f Рік тому

    Beautiful

  • @isabellelachambre5051
    @isabellelachambre5051 Рік тому +1

    Amazing.

  • @allsewnuptextileart
    @allsewnuptextileart Рік тому

    Fabulous! I hope to see it.

  • @jrpipik
    @jrpipik Рік тому +1

    Comic books been around a lot longer than most people think.