Fabulous antique mid 19th century Anglo-Indian Vizagapatam jewelry box or casket, circa 1840s. 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 the most beautiful blonde tortoise shell with ornate faux iv ry or bone fretwork or frieze work. It sits on 4 carved faux iv ry or bone lionâs paw feet. The box is decorated with a floral motif using black âlacâ, 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 flower, also in black lac, with foliate garland in the outer rectangular framing. The inside of the box is lined in deep purple velvet and has space for a pocket watch, cufflinks and a mirror mounted in the lid. 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! One small missing chip of the faux iv ry 'lace' around the center incised medallion (lid) and slight darkening on the right side lid trim. Also one small section of 'strapping' missing from the right side front of the lid. Truly amazing considering.
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.
