Not currently on display at the V&A

Work Basket

ca. 1855 (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

This porcupine quill workbox was made at Vizagapatam, a port on the east coast of India where from the early 18th century craftsmen were producing fancy cabinetwork and novelty wares for western consumers. Most Vizagapatam pieces are of wood worked with ivory. The use of horn and porcupine quill in the design of this piece illustrates how, towards the mid-19th century, craftsmen were attempting to appeal to a wider market by producing objects in cheaper materials.


Object details

Categories
Object type
Parts
This object consists of 2 parts.

  • Work Basket
  • Lid
Materials and techniques
Buffalo-horn frame, with porcupine quill sides, turned horn bun feet, horn carrying handle and carved horn lotus on lid
Dimensions
  • Height: 22cm
  • Width: 23cm
  • Depth: 23cm
Object history
Transferred from the India Museum in 1879. 1880 Register Entry: [Room 8. Wall Case 30.] '01,095. WORK BASKET. Porcupine quills, fitted in bone frames; Vizianagram. 4,323'
Summary
This porcupine quill workbox was made at Vizagapatam, a port on the east coast of India where from the early 18th century craftsmen were producing fancy cabinetwork and novelty wares for western consumers. Most Vizagapatam pieces are of wood worked with ivory. The use of horn and porcupine quill in the design of this piece illustrates how, towards the mid-19th century, craftsmen were attempting to appeal to a wider market by producing objects in cheaper materials.
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.213, pl.59..
Other number
4323 - India Museum Slip Book
Collection
Accession number
01095:1, 2/(IS)

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Record createdNovember 26, 2002
Record URL
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