19C Anglo Indian Vizagapatam Bone and Shell Glove Box.
BEAUTIFUL 19th Century Anglo-Indian glove box from circa 1880.
The box is constructed of sandalwood but completely covered in the most gorgeous speckled faux blonde tortoiseshell and bone/faux ivory carved frieze panels and edging and banding.
Made in Vizagapatam, India……famous for its HIGH QUALITY furniture and boxes in the time of the Raj !
The dome shaped lid depicts a lion (symbol of the British Empire) as its central motif……with hand-painted foliage, etc.
They used lac ink for the decoration…..an indelible ink made from crushed beetles.
The box still has its original blue velvet lining and sits on 4 carved bone lions paw feet.
This box is in SUPER CONDITION……HIGHLY COLLECTIBLE !!
19C Anglo Indian Vizagapatam Bone and Shell Glove Box.
ANGLO-INDIAN BOXES: 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 early 19th century horn boxes were made in very robust architectural shapes. They often had stepped or canted lids of radiating reeded segments culminating in turned and fluted finials. They stood on turned feet, which showed up the form to full advantage. By the middle of the century shapes became simpler and smaller, sometimes domed, covered with flat horn veneer. They were decorated with fretted or incised ivory strips affixed with ivory pins.
Link: http://www.hygra.com/anglo.html#2
From the early 18th century Vizagapatam in India was a leading center for wood and ivory work, where craftsmen produced fancy furniture and novelty wares specifically for western consumers.
19C Anglo Indian Vizagapatam Bone and Shell Glove Box.
Provenance: Part of our extensive Anglo-Indian Collection.
Dimensions: 10.5″ Wide, 3″ tall and 4.75″ deep.
Condition: Excellent.