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 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 workbox, embellished with elk horn – 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.
Object details
Categories | |
Object type | |
Parts | This object consists of 11 parts.
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Materials and techniques | Sandalwood, the exterior overlaid with strips of stained elk horn; silvered brass lock and hinges |
Brief description | rectangular; Domestic, ebony, Viziagapatam Domestic, ebony, turned, Viziagapatam Domestic, ebony, turned, Viziagapatam Domestic, elk horn wood, Vishakhapatnam Tools, brass, Viziagapatam spool case; Domestic, ebony, turned, Viziagapatam Domestic, ebony, turned, Viziagapatam Domestic, ebony, turned, Vishakhapatnam rectangular; Domestic, elk horn wood, Vishakhapatnam square; Domestic, elk horn wood, Vishakhapatnam square; Domestic, elk horn wood, Vishakhapatnam |
Physical description | Workbox of sandalwood, the exterior overlaid with strips of stained elk horn, with silvered brass lock and hinges. |
Dimensions |
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Object history | Transferred from the India Museum in 1879. 1880 Register Entry: [Room 8. Case ? No.] '0969. WORK BOX. Elk horn; Viziagapatam.' (No slip number given.) |
Summary | This workbox 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 workbox, embellished with elk horn – 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. |
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.214, pl.61. |
Collection | |
Accession number | 0969:1 to 10/(IS) |
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Record created | February 5, 2004 |
Record URL |
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