Featured Mystery Box?

Here is a photo of one of my cabinets with the Nagina items and the silver together.

 

Sorry. Technical problems with the upload. I’ll try again later

 

I've seen a number of Vizagapatam card cases in my time, this one is in very good condition just missing a few pegs, a little fretwork and a bash on the corner ect. I tend to stay away from card cases and other obsolete antiques because today people want antiques they can use and thus it makes them more saleable and more expensive. One day I might sell my collection so I always keep that in mind.

 

Tell me about Anglo Indian antiques being pricey these days, I remember when they were less than £100 for a good one. I picked up this Vizagapatam box years ago, I can't say what I paid because I might sell it one day but what do you think it's worth today?

 

No worries, I always have technical issues lol

 

I agree a plain background would have been much better, I know it looks like I was showing off the table but I did honestly look for the white sheeting I normally use to take photos but it looks like it's in the outside storage or I've chucked out.

 

This is absolutely beautiful. Keep hold of it. I’m no expert on valuations but I saw a box similar to this about six months ago without the fretwork and the painting and it went for 1000s. I can’t recall if it was 3 or 5 but this is nicer than that box.

 

I know little to nothing about these boxes but...dang. If priced by the labor involved, $1000 is still going cheap!

 

When I bought it I thought the labour involved was worth far more than I paid, actually most Anglo Indian works when I first started collecting were cheap for what they were, it's only now they are being recognized and fetching the price I always thought they were worth.

 

I'm glad you think the same as I do, the truth is I haven't a clue what it will go for but I'm yet to see one like this. I do have another with better fretwork, unfortunately it has damage.

 

Agreed. The detail and artistry is just breathtaking and you just don’t see that quality today. Everyone has a story of the one that got away and I’ll tell you mine. It was a lovely domed Nagina Tea caddy. The tea compartments had carved lids with original handles and the domed lid was beautiful but there were a few problems with some cracks and losses which I now know are commensurate with humidity, heat and age but I didn’t bid for it at the time it went for £200 which is an absolute steal by today’s standards. I’ve never seen another one since.

 

Finally got it to work. This is one of my cabinets.

 

WOW!!!! it looks fantastic and I think you have some real bangers as far as Nagina boxes, I need close ups. Unfortunately I know very little about silver but I do know a little when it comes to Indian embossing (ie what's good) so close up's on all please

 

I also didn't bid on that lol, ebay around 2 years ago? I'm not sure exactly when it was but I'm sure I saw it.

 

Was this it? https://www.gardencourtantiques.com...d-ebony-dome-top-tea-caddy-ceylon-circa-1840/

 

"I don’t have the talent that you have for finding the bargains" lol more luck than talent but speaking of luck I just bought this last night for less than $300 with postage from the US, it's 10.25" x 9.25" x 4.75" It will need work but what a find

 

Holy guacamole. That is NICE. I can see a "smoosh" one one corner but...DANG, it's lucky for you Americans don't know Indian antiques.

 

Yes a fantastic find, it's not just the "smoosh" (love that) in the corner but also it has natural splits in the ebony and the hinges have at some point been broken out so I may need to inset some new wood (not a lot) and re-carve to match, clean off the glue or I might need to disassemble and re-glue but these are so rare it's worth doing. I only have 3 examples of antique Ceylonese carving so very happy with my find.

 

Almost identical. Absolutely gutting