19C Anglo Indian Vizagapatam Blonde Shell and Bone Box

Published by Nevan O Shaughnessy on March 11, 2016March 11, 2016

19C Anglo Indian Vizagapatam Blonde Shell and Bone Box.

STUNNING little 19th Century Anglo-Indian Vizagapatam Blonde Shell & Bone Box.

Made in Vizagapatam, India circa 1870.

The central motif or hand-painted cartouche on the fretwork lid is of a sacred elephant.

Edged and banded in bone.

Sits on four hand carved lions paw feet.

Beautiful patina.

In GREAT CONDITION !!

HIGHLY DESIRABLE AND COLLECTIBLE !!

Anglo Indian boxes were made in India for the English residents from the early part of the 18th century. They were brought back or sent back to England usually by the people who had commissioned them. From the beginning of the nineteenth century they were imported more commercially, although not in any significant numbers until the middle decades. They were very highly valued, especially the early ones, to the extent that the designs were copied on late 19th and early 20th century tins.
The decoration took the form of a border of ivory. The ivory was incised and filled with black lacquer to form intricate floral motifs. In addition to their beauty, the borders also disguised the joints in the ivory and tortoiseshell pieces, which were, because of their nature, of restricted size. Like the earlier boxes, they were edged in decorated ivory, which sealed the end grain and protected it from moisture.

Link: http://hygra.com/anglo.html