Dressing box
Category
Furniture
Date
circa 1750
Materials
sandalwood veneered with etched ivory, brass mounted
Measurements
19 x 42 x 33 cm
Place of origin
Vizagapatam
Order this imageCollection
Ham House, Surrey
NT 1139633
Summary
An Anglo-indian dressing box, circa 1750, veneered with etched ivory plaques on sandalwood, possibly made in Vizagapatam. It is mounted with brass handles and a keyhole escutcheon with open work, decorated with trailing flowers and foliage borders. Of rectangular form, the top opening to a fitted interior centred by a mirror flanked by compartments, some with etched ivory veneered lids, above a frieze drawer to the base.
Provenance
As can be seen in a watercolour by H.W Brewer, this ivory box was displayed on a centre table in the North Drawing room in 1886, near the large ivory cabinet (Private collection). Acquired in 1948 by HM Government when Sir Lyonel, 4th Bt (1854 – 1952) and Sir Cecil Tollemache, 5th Bt (1886 – 1969) presented Ham House to the National Trust, and entrusted to the care of the Victoria & Albert Museum, until 1990, when returned to the care of the National Trust, and to which ownership was transferred in 2002.