a cassone (plural "cassoni") or marriage chest is a rich and showy italian type of chest, which may be inlaid or carved, prepared with gesso ground then painted and gilded. "pastiglia" was decoration in low relief carved or moulded in gesso, and was very widely used. the cassone ("large chest") was one of the trophy furnishings of rich merchants and aristocrats in italian culture, from the late middle ages onward. the cassone was the most important piece of furniture of that time. it was given to a bride and placed in the bridal suite. it would be given to the bride during the wedding, and it was the bride's parents' contribution to the wedding.