Tea chest lid
Category
Objets de vertu
Date
1800 - 1850
Materials
Bone, Hardwood, Ivory, Sandalwood
Measurements
185 mm (H)275 mm (Length)160 mm (D)
Collection
Greenway, Devon
NT 120652.2
Summary
Indian tea chest, ivory veneeered on native hardwood (?sandalwood) carcass. The top sits loosely on the body without fixing or fitting. The rectangular panels on top of the lid, sides and ends have engraved and blackened formalised and symmetrical scenes of building with trees and railings, surrounded by borders of meandering flowers and leaves. The slightly concave sloping sides of the lid are decorated with entwining garlands of flower and berries, with engraved bandings. The base has a continuous border of a trilobate motif, and the carved feet are faced with mythical animal masks (some damaged). Inside the chest is divided with three equal compartments, with no fittings or coverings. This is an early 19th century example of Indian ivory-veneered work, made at Vizagapatam on the East coast, north of Madras (now Cennai) for the British residents. (for more information on this subject see Amin Jaffer Furniture of British India and Ceylon. V+A/Peabody Essex museum)