Model Box
before 1880 (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
This model box and its accompanying components were devised as a way of illustrating the process of sadeli work. Sadeli is a geometric micro-mosaic composed of various woods, metals and ivory, arranged in patterns as a veneer or border over a wooden carcass. Sadeli boxes were characteristic of Bombay and were widely prized and collected as an ingenious manufacture of the region. This model was clearly intended to enlighten exhibition visitors as the exact method in which the decorative and highly skilled sadeli technique was achieved.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Parts | This object consists of 32 parts.
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| Materials and techniques | Rosewood, inlaid and veneered in sadeli technique; raw materials such as ivory, white wire, ebony, sandalwood, strips of ebony, strips of sandalwood and strips of sadeli |
| Brief description | Model box, rosewood partly veneered with ivory, Bombay, before 1880. |
| Physical description | Model box of rosewood, inlaid and veneered with materials in such a way as to illustrate the sadeli technique. The box is accompanied by a range of raw materials such as ivory, white wire, ebony, sandalwood, strips of ebony, strips of sandalwood and strips of sadeli; as well as two display boards mounted with sample sadeli designs. |
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| Marks and inscriptions |
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| Gallery label | Samples showing stages of sadeli work
1860–75
Firm of Bhowanishunker Hurrivullub and possibly others
India (Bombay)
Various woods (including ebony and sandalwood), ivory, stag’s horn and metals (probably tin); with green stain
Museum no. 01997(IS)
Geometric micromosaic was produced in western India from about 1800. It may have been introduced from Iran, where it had been practised for centuries.
Various woods, ivory and metals were cut into long, thin rods (mainly triangular in section). The rods were arranged in symmetrical geometric patterns, glued and bound as a bundle, then sawn transversely to produce slices of veneer. (01/12/2012) |
| Object history | Acquired by the India Museum before 1880, possibly at the Universal Exhibition, Paris of 1855 and 1867. Transferred from the India Museum in 1879. 1880 Register Entry: [Room No. 7- continued. Base of Case 36.] '01,997. MATERIALS and implements used in the manufacture of ivory and inlaid work; Bombay. ?6,305. Parcel of thin strips, Puttung Sullaee (40). Pieces of ivory, ten. Piece of ebony. Strips of wood, nine. Parcel of green Tundharee chips (29). Parcel of thin strips, Alboonoos Sullaee (39). Parcel of thin strips, Tundharee Dautnee (45). Kutkee, round (15). Chucker, two pieces, round (14). Gool, three pieces (17). Tun Koonia Gool, two pieces (18). White wire, five pieces. Parcel of long strips of mosaic moulding. Box, containing fragments of mosaic moulding. Teekee, four pieces (16). Raw material for a box illustrating inlaid work. ?525 Parcel of green colour. Small piece of ebony. Metal cube. ?9,410 Saws, three; Kurvut (1, 2, 3). ?9,400 Planes, two; Rundha (4, 5). 9,400 Square; Katkono (12). Hammer; Hathodee (6). 9,400 File; Kanus (9.) 9,400 Chisel; Phursee (10). 9,400' |
| Summary | This model box and its accompanying components were devised as a way of illustrating the process of sadeli work. Sadeli is a geometric micro-mosaic composed of various woods, metals and ivory, arranged in patterns as a veneer or border over a wooden carcass. Sadeli boxes were characteristic of Bombay and were widely prized and collected as an ingenious manufacture of the region. This model was clearly intended to enlighten exhibition visitors as the exact method in which the decorative and highly skilled sadeli technique was achieved. |
| Associated object | 01997-0 (Shared Other number) |
| Bibliographic reference | Jaffer, Amin Furniture from British India and Ceylon: A Catalogue of the Collections in the Victoria and Albert Museum and the Peabody Essex Museum. London : V&A Publications, 2001. 416 p., ill. ISBN 1851773185, p.324-5, pl.143. |
| Other numbers |
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| Collection | |
| Accession number | 01997:1 to 40/(IS) |
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| Record created | July 25, 2005 |
| Record URL |
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