Chessboard
ca. 1855 (made)
Artist/Maker | |
Place of origin |
The sadeli technique with which this games board is decorated is a type of micro-mosaic inlay made with faceted strips of diverse materials such as tin, horn, ivory, sappan wood and ebony. In 19th-century India this technique was most widely practised in Bombay and fancy articles decorated in this way were generically known as 'Bombay boxes'. This piece, however, was made in Calcutta, where a family of sadeli artisans had settled in the mid-19th century.
Object details
Categories | |
Object type | |
Materials and techniques | Rosewood, the exterior veneered and the interior lined with sandalwood; partly decorated with micromosaic of wood and metals; silvered brass mounts |
Brief description | Folding games board, rosewood, c.1855, Calcutta. |
Physical description | Folding games board of rosewood, the exterior veneered and the interior lined with sandalwood, partly decorated with micromosaic of wood and metals; with silver brass mounts. |
Dimensions |
|
Object history | Transferred from the India Museum in 1879. 1880 Register Entry: [Room 8. Wall Case 30.] '01,155. CHESS BOARD. Sandalwood, covered with ivory and mosaic; Bombay. 4,295' |
Summary | The sadeli technique with which this games board is decorated is a type of micro-mosaic inlay made with faceted strips of diverse materials such as tin, horn, ivory, sappan wood and ebony. In 19th-century India this technique was most widely practised in Bombay and fancy articles decorated in this way were generically known as 'Bombay boxes'. This piece, however, was made in Calcutta, where a family of sadeli artisans had settled in the mid-19th century. |
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.233, pl.73. |
Other number | 4295 - India Museum Slip Book |
Collection | |
Accession number | 01155(IS) |
About this object record
Explore the Collections contains over a million catalogue records, and over half a million images. It is a working database that includes information compiled over the life of the museum. Some of our records may contain offensive and discriminatory language, or reflect outdated ideas, practice and analysis. We are committed to addressing these issues, and to review and update our records accordingly.
You can write to us to suggest improvements to the record.
Suggest feedback
You can write to us to suggest improvements to the record.
Suggest feedback
Record created | February 5, 2004 |
Record URL |
Download as: JSONIIIF Manifest