Cabinet
ca. 1895 (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
Furniture makers in Ceylon (Sri Lanka) made this ebony cabinet. They copied the form from a 'cabinet, secretary, and bookcase' in the Baroque Revival style by William and Charles Freeman of Norwich. The Freemans exhibited it at the Great Exhibition of 1851. However, the decoration of the V&A cabinet was designed to reflect where it was made. The lavish use of ebony, a highly prized timber, illustrates the natural wealth of Ceylon. The construction and decorative carving of the case displays the skill of the Ceylonese craftsmen. The vegetation illustrated in the decoration shows the range and abundance of fruits and vegetables on the island. The pairs of figures from different regions give an idea of the appearance and dress of island's inhabitants.
Object details
| Category | |
| Object type | |
| Materials and techniques | Carved ebony and other woods, with brass locks and silvered brass mounts |
| Brief description | Cabinet, ebony, c.1895, Galle District |
| Dimensions |
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| Subjects depicted | |
| Summary | Furniture makers in Ceylon (Sri Lanka) made this ebony cabinet. They copied the form from a 'cabinet, secretary, and bookcase' in the Baroque Revival style by William and Charles Freeman of Norwich. The Freemans exhibited it at the Great Exhibition of 1851. However, the decoration of the V&A cabinet was designed to reflect where it was made. The lavish use of ebony, a highly prized timber, illustrates the natural wealth of Ceylon. The construction and decorative carving of the case displays the skill of the Ceylonese craftsmen. The vegetation illustrated in the decoration shows the range and abundance of fruits and vegetables on the island. The pairs of figures from different regions give an idea of the appearance and dress of island's inhabitants. |
| Bibliographic references |
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| Collection | |
| Accession number | IS.18-1986 |
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| Record created | March 10, 2003 |
| Record URL |
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