Fabulous antique mid 19th century Victorian era Anglo-Indian Vizagapatam stamps box or desk casket, circa 1840s, with genuine horn veneers, carved ivory accenting and original interior. Referred to as Vizagapatam or Sadeli boxes because of their origins, made in British East India for the European market and aren't they gorgeous! The box is made of sandalwood but completely covered in genuine horn veneers and topped with ornate ivory or bone fretwork or frieze work and strapping. It sits on carved lion's paw feet. The box is decorated with a floral motif using black "lac", an ink derived from secretions of female lac beetles found in the forests of India and Thailand (where we get the term shellac). The central cartouche or medallion on the lid depicts a figure, also in black lac. The inside has four compartments, separated by the sandalwood partitions, as you would find with an old stamps box. 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.
Very good condition! A few small sections of the ivory 'lace' missing, along with a few of the ivory cabochons. There are also a few other missing ivory accents so peruse the images. Truly amazing all things considered. See pictures for all measurements.
IMPORTANT NOTE regarding antique tortoise shell or ivory: We are great supporters of protection for endangered species in our modern world. We never buy or sell anything 100 years or newer; we donate to anti-poaching organizations; we don't hunt; we conserve in ways that impact global warming (we're totally solar at home), knowing those measures also protect the animals in the wild today. We also recognize the vast cultural history we preserve with our care and reverence for these antique objects, and agree with CITES that objects over 100 years of age have nothing whatsoever to do with species depletion in our current world.
Our offering exceeds the age limitation of "more than 100 years of age", and is well within the exemption for CITES regulation. If imported, met the CITES regulation. This item will be handled and shipped from our Utah business, and is not available for shipment internationally, nor within the USA to California, NY, Nevada, Hawaii, New Jersey, Oregon, Washington if it contains ivory, sorry. Please see our small print for more details.
