An Intriguing Museum Visit, 2

As mentioned previously, a friend from the States came to visit and we went to the Carthage Museum. After wandering around the ruins we went into the building where we thought we would find an exhibit, however, it had ended. As nobody was there and the door was open, we poked around and found the exhibit had not yet been removed. I looked at some interesting Roman items, took some pictures and then noticed a group of amazing antique chests at the end of the room...hardly Roman.

I find decorative painting interesting, especially in this part of the world, and I see that the tole painting that my mother produced shares certain basic principles.

Sometimes I don't pay attention to the signs 

because the work demands unmitigated admiration.

 These two chests appear to be by the same artisan. 

Then I looked at the sign--curiouser and curiouser. The chests dated from the 18th-19th centuries and orignated in Genoa, Italy.

This rooster caught my eye--the contrast between the dark background and white elements is striking.

Even the inside of the lids were painted.

This lid pleases me because of the intricacies of the design.

 

And then there was an interesting nailed design.

My favorite chest, probably because of the pinks and warm colors.

While my friend continued to study the Roman items, I went back to the beginning. And then, suddenly this Chinese horse made me gasp: standing about two feet tall and three feet wide, it was entirely made in JADE ! Dating from the 19th century, I wondered what this piece was doing in this collection and then I paid attention to the sign.

No, then I really paid attention to the sign and gasped again. Understanding hit me--this was an exhibit of a few of the precious objects recovered from the homes of the ex-dictator and his family. I went back to the chests. Sure enough, they were from the Hammamet palace of one of the dictator's sons-in-law. 

Suddenly, this museum visit became really intriguing...