Furniture
ca. 1850 (made)
Artist/Maker | |
Place of origin |
This writing box of painted and varnished papier mache was made to contain pens, ink and other equipment for writing. Decorative papier mache was a speciality of Kashmir and was made for both the local and European markets. Painted and varnished wood was often used in place of true papier mache from the later 19th century onwards, but the finest work was produced by building up layers of moistened paper in a mould to the required shape, which was then smoothed, painted and varnished.
The box was given by Queen Victoria in 1852, the year in which the Museum's collections began to be acquired.
The box was given by Queen Victoria in 1852, the year in which the Museum's collections began to be acquired.
Object details
Category | |
Object type | |
Parts | This object consists of 11 parts.
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Materials and techniques | Papier Mache, painted and varnished |
Brief description | Writing box, Papier mache, painted and varnished, Srinagar, Kashmir. |
Physical description | Writing box, with stand or tray, containing various instruments. Papier mache, painted and varnished. The box sits in a tray in the shape of an elongated octagon. The tray has eight feet, arranged in pairs. Its decoration consists mainly of gold painted flower motifs on blue and green grounds, with another band of red and blue flowers with white details and green stems on a gold ground. The box has a metal clasp. It is predominantly painted with gold flowers on a dark blue ground. There are two inscriptions on the lid in Arabic script. |
Dimensions |
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Marks and inscriptions | (There are two inscriptions on the lid in Arabic script, presumably in Persian or Urdu.) |
Gallery label | 4. WRITING BOX
Papier mache, painted and varnished
Srinagar, Kashmir, c.1850.
Given by HM Queen Victoria
PEN BOX
Papier mâché, painted and varnished
Kashmir
c. 1850
5-1852
Given by HM Queen Victoria
Kashmir was, and still is, famous for highly decorated articles made of papier mâché. Then, as now, these were made for both local and foreign markets. The finest work is produced by building up layers of moistened paper in a mould to the required shape. The object is then smoothed, painted, and varnished to make it water resistant.
GOLDEN THRONE(27/9/2013) |
Credit line | Given by HM Queen Victoria |
Object history | Given by Queen Victoria. Described in the South Kensington Museum Inventory as having come from Lahore and as 'modern' (in 1852). |
Subject depicted | |
Summary | This writing box of painted and varnished papier mache was made to contain pens, ink and other equipment for writing. Decorative papier mache was a speciality of Kashmir and was made for both the local and European markets. Painted and varnished wood was often used in place of true papier mache from the later 19th century onwards, but the finest work was produced by building up layers of moistened paper in a mould to the required shape, which was then smoothed, painted and varnished. The box was given by Queen Victoria in 1852, the year in which the Museum's collections began to be acquired. |
Collection | |
Accession number | 5 to J-1852 |
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Record created | July 17, 2008 |
Record URL |
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