Anglo-Indian Box

Any help with the identification (details) of this box would be much appreciated. What I think I know about it is 1) it's Anglo-Indian, perhaps 19th century and 2) made of sandalwood with ivory and silver details. Regarding the finish, it does appear to have a shiny, greenish veneer.

I would say it is in very good condition. Some of the ivory (or bone) edging is broken and the key doesn't work.

 

Where is the burlap? Underside? or at the bottom of the interior sections?

Very pretty!

No provenance?

 

Burlap? Do you mean the fabric, which is on the underside where the mark is? Admittedly, I'm a genuine noob when it comes to this side of history. And what do you mean by provenance? Is that proof that it belonged to someone or that it has a traceable history? If so, I don't have any paperwork, but I'm sure it was a gift to a relative back in the 1930-40s.

 

Ah! Perhaps you call that kind of fabric something else. Yes, the fabric. So it covers the bottom of the box? Seems a bit strange to me to have such nice materials on the visible parts and then have the bottom be fabric and not the same wood as the rest.

Yes, provenance is the "story" - doesn't have to be documents, especially a family piece, although, believe it or not some people actually keep bills of sale with their "good stuff." In your case what relative, what, if anything, do you know about what this relative did in life that pertains to the item and when and where they got the item. I realize you don't know much specifics - just wanted to explain the meaning of the terminology.

 

Hi and welcome to the boards!

I have no personal knowledge about your box but a similar one is discussed here.

http://www.mylearning.org/hindu-casket/p-4303/

And here are a few similar offered by auction houses.

http://www.bamfords-auctions.co.uk/...-Vizagapatam-ivory-sarcophagus-shaped-casket/

http://www.ukauctioneers.com/auctio...s=50&sortBy=lotsort&lotView=list&imagesOnly=N

 

Thanks for the responses so far.

@Bakersgma : my box is a bit of a mystery when it comes to provenance. I do know it was a gift to a man who died during WW2, who was the grandfather of my wife. It was then passed onto his son, my wife's father.

@say_it_slowly : thanks for the links. Before posting here I did scour the Internet for several hours and came up with similar boxes. I suppose the mystery I'm trying to solve is being to identify the scripted mark on the bottom of the box, mainly because it looks hand painted.

 

I could get that script read in a heartbeat where I live. Any local Indian restaurants? (We call burlap sacking.)

 

Hi,
Beautiful box. You take great photos. Perhaps the lock does not work because the key has been switched? Perhaps it just needs a tiny shot of silicone spray into the keyhole to loosen the mechanisim.
greg

 

Forgot that Davey probably spoke Aussie.

Your box/casket is beautiful and I learned a lot from that first link I posted about the possible origin. Love learning new things!

I did try using Google translate but it gave me everything from possible Nepali to Persian and lots of things in between. The only thing that seemed vaguely possible that it returned was Ravi in Urdu. So maybe a Pakistani restaurant too?

 

Photography is a passion. Not a lot to these pictures except to provide a neutral background (grey card is perfect) and having good light (here it's simply daylight from a nearby window). Yeah, the details come up a treat. Thanks for the compliment.

Regarding the lock, I'm inclined to carefully open the lock, which has two tiny screws. It might give me a clue as to what is wrong. I certainly wouldn't tamper with it.

 

Thanks for your efforts. Strangely, I do love a mystery ... and I am very patient!

 

Hi History,
That is what I would do to the lock. I just would not suggest someone to do it.
greg

 

Vizagapatam seems to be the word to use (returns some very interesting Google images). The ivory might be laid over buffalo horn. My guess (really uninformed) is that this is a tourist piece. That's mostly based on the hinges, which do not seem to be very good quality.

I would guess the corner bits of ivory on the lid need to be turned sideways to agree with the corner banding on the box.