Iron sarcophagus casket, completely decorated in bas-relief using the extraordinary technique of "metal removal with chisel and burin", belonging to Josef Radetzky von Radetz, Austrian field marshal, Bohemian nobleman, governor of the Lombardy-Venetian Kingdom and commander of the Austrian Army during the First War of Independence.
The "sarcophagus" casket, of typical Austrian Biedermeier shape and style, is richly decorated on all its surfaces, among which a crowned shield stands out on the lid, inside which a "shovel" placed transversally, allows it to be associated with the armorial emblem of the "Graf Von Radetz" family. Furthermore, to consolidate this statement, on the frontal plane, at the top of the 2 hinges used to close the lid, 2 initials stand out: "J" and "R" which fall perfectly in the center of the chest of each of the 2 double-headed eagles placed on the right and left of the aforementioned frontal plane of the casket. These 2 letters, together with the crowned shield with "shovel", herald of the Graf von Radetz family, support and consolidate without any doubt the belonging of this casket to "Josef Radetzky" von Radetz, in a period between 1815 and 1848 approximately.
In addition, as on the facade, there are also 2 double-headed eagles on the sides, which also adhere to the style of the Habsburg eagle but without the fundamental imperial dictates such as crown and weapons (scepter and a sword in the left paw and globe symbol of imperial and military power held by the Habsburgs in the right paw).
It is easy to understand the fact that Radetzy could not boast, in his private and personal effects, the Imperial Habsburg Eagle because, in addition to not belonging to the lineage of the imperial family, he belonged to a Bohemian nobility, despite the fact that that region was under the Habsburg territorial dominions. For this irrefutable reason therefore, the master executor of the casket, preferred to create precise references in the decorations that led back to these iconographies, without however reporting the exact specifications.
The result obtained makes it clear that this casket was made by Austrian craftsmen to be destined, as a probable direct client, to an important person close to the imperial family. Also the imperial crown, usually above the double-headed eagle, was stylised with an impressive decoration which contains all the prerequisites of its general characteristics, typical of the Biedermeier style.
On the sides of the same there are 2 small handles which, for shape and details made in a single piece each, make them a small decorative masterpiece. Four feet worked in the shape of small acorns, have the purpose of supporting a compact structure weighing 2.6 kg.
A very interesting peculiarity of this casket is the locking system: in addition to a typical lock, which was operated by a key, to open it it was necessary to unscrew one of the 2 small acorns placed at the end of a bar which passes through 2 eyelets riveted on the front of the casket. To make the system more complex and particular, only one of the 2 small acorns unscrews and this must necessarily happen in a clockwise direction rather than counterclockwise as commonly happens for the normal loosening of any screw.
A masterpiece of Austrian blacksmith art carving made in the Biedermeier style, belonging to one of the most iconic Austrian figures in the Italian Renaissance period.