Featured Nagina carving, a lost art

Thanks. That does indeed. Sounds just about right!

 

I have just found this, I don't know if you have seen it yet but thought if you haven't you might be interested.
https://issuu.com/fresnelglenn/docs/india_v2_pdf/24

 

This is really interesting. I’ve never seen a resource which delves into Indian boxes and art like this. There is a book from the V&A but it’s out of print, difficult to find and extortionate. Thanks so much for sharing.

 

Funny, I've just logged in to find something for a email with the author of that book, we have been chatting and it turns out this book is just a draft and it's not yet in print lol

 

I'm sure he won't mind me showing you, he's quite a restorer, I haven't managed to restore fretwork like this.

 

Not a trick I'd want to try either. I wonder if the work cost more in labor than the box was worth monetarily.

 

I think this restoration was done on his own box and knowing what items he has I don't think it was a financial move, more one of preservation. We have been discussing methods of restoration and I showed him this box saying I wish it was in better condition, his next email described how he went about restoring his.

 

P.S, I do think it was worth fixing, these aren't cheap, especially in the US where he is.

 

We get the carved mass-produced ones on a good day. Nice pieces like that only turn up in fine antique stores, and then rarely. If they're ivory the dealers in my state have them stashed at home anyway, since they can't be sold at all.

 

Can I ask? does that mean any ivory at all? ie no Sadeli or Vizagapatam can be sold because these types of boxes both contain some ivory. Here in the UK it's 10% or less without a licence meaning the box above doesn't need a licence because the ivory content is less than 10% of it's weight.

 

I think you can sell to a museum, but otherwise it's not safe. They're 'protecting elephants' buy not allowing the sale of antique artwork. Go figure. You can only sell if you have no idea it's ivory and the buyer keeps mum.

 

Can you give it away? It seems a shame, all that artwork gone forever, nobody will be able to enjoy it unless you are already the owner. I get the world needs to protect endangered species but a total ban on clearly antique items is a step to far, what the US should have done is set a date in history, anything after that is banned. I wonder what next, a ban on endangered species of wood?

 

Sure. I don't think it can be posted though. The total ban isn't everywhere, but it's restricted. As for woods, don't give them ideas. Rosewood is already a problem.

 

what's the difference between 1950 ivory....and 2010 ivory..?

 

Coromandel wood was sourced from India and South East Asia and was an incredibly dense, close-grained wood. Visually a more vibrant and figured (patterned) variety from the Ebony family, the actual species of Coromandel became virtually extinct by the beginning of the 20th century.

 

Easter Island was covered with palm trees for over 30,000 years, but is treeless today. There is good evidence that the trees largely disappeared between 1200 and 1650.

 

None in that you can't sell either.

 

seems a lot gets sold anyways..

 

That’s absolutely amazing. What skill.