Workbox
ca. 1924 (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
Boxes devised to hold materials for sewing and needlework were stock products of workshops at Vizagapatam, an important furniture-producing centre midway down the east coast of India. Vizagapatam wares were prized for their high-quality ivory-inlay and ivory-veneers.
However, by the mid to late 19th century ivory was often substituted with cheaper materials such as horn and porcupine quills. This particular piece was exhibited at the British Empire Exhibition, held in Wembley in 1924. Queen Mary acquired it and presented it to the V&A.
However, by the mid to late 19th century ivory was often substituted with cheaper materials such as horn and porcupine quills. This particular piece was exhibited at the British Empire Exhibition, held in Wembley in 1924. Queen Mary acquired it and presented it to the V&A.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Parts | This object consists of 40 parts.
|
| Materials and techniques | Sandalwood, overlaid with porcupine quill, with borders of buffalo horn; brass and silvered brass mounts |
| Brief description | Textiles, cotton Textiles, white satin ribbon Costume, paper "Joseph Wedgwood"; Domestic, card ink, printed "Miss Martelli"; Domestic, card ink, printed "Miss Martelli"; Domestic, card ink, printed Domestic, sandalwood ivory, Vishnakhapatnam Domestic, metal, Vishnakhapatnam, c1850 Domestic, horn ivory, Vishankhapatnam, c1850 Domestic, ivory, Vishakhapatnam, c1850 Domestic, horn ivory, Vishankhapatnam, c1850 Domestic, ivory, Vishakhapatnam, c1850 Domestic, ivory metal, Vishnakhapatnam, c1850 Domestic, sandalwood quill, Vishnakhapatnam, c1850 Domestic, sandalwood quill, Vishnakhapatnam, c1850 Domestic, ivory metal, Vishnakhapatnam, c1850 Domestic, horn, Vishnakhapatnam, c1850 Domestic, ivory, Vishakhapatnam, c1850 Domestic, horn ivory, Vishankhapatnam, c1850 Domestic, ivory, Vishakhapatnam, c1850 Domestic, ivory, Vishakhapatnam, c1850 (with cotton); Domestic, wood thread, Vishnakhapatnam, c1850 (with cotton); Domestic, wood thread, Vishnakhapatnam, c1850 Domestic, ivory, Vishakhapatnam, c1850 Domestic, ivory, Vishakhapatnam, c1850 Domestic, ivory, Vishakhapatnam, c1850 and thread; Domestic, mother-of-pearl, Vishnakhapatnam, c1850 and thread; Domestic, horn, Vishnakhapatnam, c1850 and thread; Domestic, horn, Vishnakhapatnam, c1850 and thread; Domestic, sandalwood, Vishnakhapatnam, c1850 and thread; Domestic, sandalwood, Vishnakhapatnam, c1850 and thread; Domestic, horn, Vishnakhapatnam, c1850 and thread; Domestic, horn, Vishnakhapatnam, c1850 and thread; Domestic, horn, Vishnakhapatnam, c1850 Domestic, wood cloth silk, Vishnakhapatnam, c1850 Domestic, ivory, Vishakhapatnam, c1850 Domestic, ivory, Vishakhapatnam, c1850 Domestic, metal velvet, Vishnakhapatnam, c1850 Domestic, horn cloth, Vishnakhapatnam, c1850 Domestic, sandalwood quill, Vishnakhapatnam, c1850 |
| Physical description | Workbox of sandalwood, overlaid with porcupine quill, with borders of buffalo horn, with brass lock, silvered brass hinges and silvered brass feet. |
| Dimensions |
|
| Credit line | Presented by Queen Mary |
| Object history | The box was exhibited at the British Empire Exhibition, Wembley in 1924 and was acquired by Queen Mary, who presented it to the V&A. |
| Associations | |
| Summary | Boxes devised to hold materials for sewing and needlework were stock products of workshops at Vizagapatam, an important furniture-producing centre midway down the east coast of India. Vizagapatam wares were prized for their high-quality ivory-inlay and ivory-veneers. However, by the mid to late 19th century ivory was often substituted with cheaper materials such as horn and porcupine quills. This particular piece was exhibited at the British Empire Exhibition, held in Wembley in 1924. Queen Mary acquired it and presented it to the V&A. |
| Bibliographic reference | Jaffer, A. Furniture from British India and Ceylon: a catalogue of the collections of the Victoria and Albert Museum and the Peabody Essex Museum. London: Victoria and Albert Museum, 2001. ISBN 1 85177 318 5, p.220-21, pl.67.. |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | IM.323:1 to 39-1924 |
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| Record created | January 9, 2006 |
| Record URL |
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