This box was made at Vizagapatam, a port on the east coast of India, where from the early 18th century craftsmen produced furniture and fancy wares for western consumers. Traditionally Vizagapatam artisans worked in ivory and hardwoods. However, in the 19th century they began making objects out of less expensive materials in order to appeal to a wider market. This highly decorative box for sewing materials, embellished with porcupine quills – a material abundant in the region – is a typical product of this period. The piece was shown at the Universal Exhibition in Paris in 1855, at which time it was acquired by the Museum.