Bureau cabinet
Category
Ivory and bone
Date
circa 1785
Materials
Ivory and wood
Measurements
640 x 222 mm; 313 mm (Length)
Place of origin
India
Order this imageCollection
Tyntesfield, North Somerset
NT 11187.1
Caption
The craftsmen of the Indian east coast port of Vizagapatam, in the early 18th century produced furniture for western consumers. Their highly intricate wood and ivory veneered pieces were meant to be small and portable.
Summary
An ivory, engraved ivory and penwork miniature bureau cabinet, Visakhapatnam, circa 1785. Shaped cresting above a frieze drawer and two panelled doors enclosing drawers. The lower section with a fall front encloses a fitted interior with a deep drawer below, decorated with architectural scenes within foliage borders.
Provenance
Purchased from the estate of the late Lord Wraxall with the assistance of the NHMF and donations from members and supporters. Sotheby's suggest this piece was 'almost certainly Antony Gibbs'.