Workbox
1840-1860 (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
Workboxes of this design - made either of calamander or ebony overlaid with porcupine quills - were stock products of furniture workshops in Galle District in southwestern coast of Ceylon (Sri Lanka). The inner face of the lid is inset with a variety of samples of specimen woods. European perceptions about the abundance of Ceylon, particularly with reference to the timbers of the island, gave rise to the production of pieces of furniture that incorporated a variety of woods as part of their decoration.
Object details
| Category | |
| Object type | |
| Materials and techniques | Ebony overlaid with porcupine quills, inlaid with ivory and wood and engraved |
| Brief description | Workbox, ebony overlaid with pocupine quills and parly inlaid with ivory, 1840-60, Galle District. |
| Physical description | Workbox of ebony, overlaid with porcupine quills and partly inlaid with ivory, partly engraved and highlighted with red and black lac; partly inlaid with different woods, with silvered brass lock, hinges and mounts. |
| Dimensions |
|
| Object history | The workbox belonged to Queen Mary, who presented it to the V&A in 1933. |
| Association | |
| Summary | Workboxes of this design - made either of calamander or ebony overlaid with porcupine quills - were stock products of furniture workshops in Galle District in southwestern coast of Ceylon (Sri Lanka). The inner face of the lid is inset with a variety of samples of specimen woods. European perceptions about the abundance of Ceylon, particularly with reference to the timbers of the island, gave rise to the production of pieces of furniture that incorporated a variety of woods as part of their decoration. |
| Bibliographic reference | affer, 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.376, pl.184. |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | IM.3-1933 |
About this object record
Explore the Collections contains over a million catalogue records, and over half a million images. It is a working database that includes information compiled over the life of the museum. Some of our records may contain offensive and discriminatory language, or reflect outdated ideas, practice and analysis. We are committed to addressing these issues, and to review and update our records accordingly.
You can write to us to suggest improvements to the record.
Suggest feedback
You can write to us to suggest improvements to the record.
Suggest feedback
| Record created | July 26, 2005 |
| Record URL |
Download as: JSONIIIF Manifest
