Lovely antique "Vizagapatam" east Indian or Sadeli style jewelry or trinket box with ornate reticulated overlays on tortoise shell veneers, lion's paw feet and in wonderful condition! 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 fretwork or frieze work. It sits on 4 carved lion's paw feet. The box is decorated with a floral motif using colored "lac", an ink derived from secretions of female lac beetles found in the forests of India and Thailand (where we get the term shellac). 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 to excellent condition. I don't see any missing fretwork or accents, no misisng veneer. See pictures for all measurements.
