NORTH-WEST INDIA, 17TH CENTURY

Details

A MUGHAL IVORY-INLAID WOODEN CHEST
NORTH-WEST INDIA, 17TH CENTURY
Of rectangular form with fall front revealing seven drawers with applied openwork polychrome lattice panels surrounded by borders of inlaid ivory rosettes, large central drawer with small lattice surrounded by double border of ivory-inlaid rosettes, exterior of the flap with three large ivory-inlaid floral sprays surrounded by identical borders of inlaid rosettes and bands, brass fittings with cusped terminals on the corners and drawer knops, curved brass handles on either side, later lock fitting, front flap slightly loose
10 1/8 x 18 3/8 x 11 3/8in. (27 x 46.5 x 29cm.)

Special notice

Prospective purchasers are advised that several countries prohibit the importation of property containing materials from endangered species, including but not limited to coral, ivory and tortoiseshell. Accordingly, prospective purchasers should familiarize themselves with relevant customs regulations prior to bidding if they intend to import this lot into another country.

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Lot Essay

Cabinets with a similar decorative composition are commonly attributed to Gujarat or Sindh, notably on the basis of contemporary accounts from European travellers to India. According to the Dutch merchant Francisco Pelsaerts, Tatta, Sindh, was in 1626 a centre of manufacture for 'ornamental desks, writing cases [...] very prettily inlaid with ivory and ebony' and Surat, Gujarat, according to James Ovington was a source of 'Desks, Sutores and Boxes neatly polisht and embellisht' in the late 1680's (Amin Jaffer, Luxury Goods from India, London, 2002, p.18.) A further fall-front casket also attributed to 17th Century North-West India was sold in these Rooms, 6 October 2011, lot 388.

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