NORTH WEST INDIA, LATE 17TH CENTURY

Details

A MUGHAL IVORY-INLAID WOODEN CABINET
NORTH WEST INDIA, LATE 17TH CENTURY
Of rectangular form with fall-front concealing eight drawers, each surface of the box decorated with a central panel of large ivory-inlaid floral sprays within a minor geometric border, around this a wider border of rosettes on ivory ground, each of the drawers with similar floral motifs within chequered borders and painted ivory knobs, locks a later replacement

11¾ x 9 1/8 x 7 7/8in. (30 x 23.3 x 20cm.)

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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Andrew Butler-Wheelhouse

abutler-wheelhouse@christies.com +44 (0)20 7389 2196

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, in 1626, Tatta in Sindh, was a centre of manufacture for 'ornamental desks, writing cases [...] very prettily inlaid with ivory and ebony'. Surat in 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 similar fall-front casket attributed to 17th century North-West India was sold in these Rooms, 25 April 2013, lot 164.

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