Work Box
ca. 1855 (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
This workbox was made at Vizagapatam, a port on the east coast of India where from the early 18th century craftsmen were producing fancy furniture and novelty wares for western consumers. The unusual combination of materials used in the decoration of this piece may have been determined by the fact that it was intended for display at the Universal Exhibition held in Paris in 1855. The interior is fully fitted with compartments, pin cushions and bobbins, indicating that it was intended to be used as a lady's sewing and embroidery workbox.
Object details
| Category | |
| Object type | |
| Parts | This object consists of 10 parts.
|
| Materials and techniques | Sandalwood, overlaid with porcupine quills, with components in buffalo horn and ivory; silvered brass lock, hinges and mounts |
| Brief description | Domestic, ebony, turned, Vizianagaram S India Domestic, wood ivory, inlaid, Vizianagaram S India Domestic, quill horn ivory, inlaid, Vizianagaram spool case; Domestic, ebony, turned, Vizianagaram S India Domestic, ebony, turned, Vizianagaram S India Domestic, ebony, turned, Vizianagaram S India oblong; Domestic, wood quill ivory, inlaid, Vizianagaram oblong; Domestic, wood quill ivory, inlaid, Vizianagaram rectangular; Domestic, wood quill ivory, inlaid, Vizianagaram rectangular; Domestic, wood quill ivory, inlaid, Vizianagaram |
| Physical description | Workbox of sandalwood, overlaid with porcupine quills, with components in buffalo horn and ivory, with silvered brass lock, hinges and mounts. |
| Dimensions |
|
| Object history | Transferred from the India Museum in 1879. 1880 Register Entry: [Room 8. Wall Case 30.] '01,096. WORK BOX. Sandalwood, mounted with horn, ivory, and porcupine quills; Vizianagram. 4,321' |
| Summary | This workbox was made at Vizagapatam, a port on the east coast of India where from the early 18th century craftsmen were producing fancy furniture and novelty wares for western consumers. The unusual combination of materials used in the decoration of this piece may have been determined by the fact that it was intended for display at the Universal Exhibition held in Paris in 1855. The interior is fully fitted with compartments, pin cushions and bobbins, indicating that it was intended to be used as a lady's sewing and embroidery workbox. |
| 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.212, pl.58. |
| Other number | 4,321 - India Museum Slip Book |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | 01096:1 to 9/2/(IS) |
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| Record created | February 2, 2004 |
| Record URL |
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