About the Piece
19th century Anglo-Indian sandal wood box, Sadeli mosaic box fitted with various compartments finely hand-carved with the Taj Mahal. Of sarcophagus form with carved and inlaid decoration, the interior with a compartmentalized and lidded tray. The interior with removable hand-carved eight-lidded compartments, the front cover has a mirror, the whole exhibiting very fine workmanship. This fine late victorian Anglo Indian Sadeli micro mosaic jewelry box from India is in great condition for it age, some Sadeli mosaic missing on top corner. A beautiful example of an Anglo Indian Bombay Sadeli Box, having geometric mosaic decoration raised on squat bun feet and lined in plush velvet, with lock and key. The ancient art of Sadeli Mosaic is said to have been introduced from Shiraz in Persia via Sind to Bombay, a long time before the Anglo Indian boxes were made. It was a technique, which required a high degree of skill and patience. It was executed very lavishly, in that the frequent cuts wasted a great amount of the precious materials used. The workmanship was however more than commensurable to the value of the materials. A highly collectible example in superb condition complete Wonderful condition throughout, Circa 1870. Some missing inlay mosaic. History of the Anglo-Indian Boxes Beginning in the early part of the 18th century, Indian artisans made what came to be known as Anglo-Indian boxes for the English residents living in India, who eventually brought or sent them back to England. At the beginning of the 19th century, India began exporting these boxes commercially, although not in any significant numbers until the 1850s. People valued them so highly that manufacturers of tins copied the designs on them in the late 19th and early 20th century. Anglo-Indian boxes in sandalwood boxes are covered with Sadeli mosaic. From Vizagapatam in East India or from Bombay in West India. English traders discovered the rich woods and intricate workmanship of Indian artisans, so colonial government officials began to recognize the work of the Indian artists and craftsmen as a source for satisfying the need for furniture and boxes, which would both serve to enhance English households in India. This gave rise to the cabinetmaking workshops in Vizagapatam between Calcutta and Madras. Craftsmen made the first boxes to be decorated with Sadeli mosaic incised to give further definition to the decoration, directly inlaid into the wood. The shape of the early boxes was either sloping at the front with a flatter section at the back, reminiscent of English writing slopes, or rectangular. Artisans inlaid the borders with stylized floral scrolls and the centers with a single floral motif following a circular or oval symmetrical or asymmetrical pattern. The edging was of a combination of inlay and wood. Both ornamental and protective, both helped protect the end grain against the weather. Made in Vizagapatam, situated on the south east coast of India, near Madras Retailed in Madras and Calcutta by the English and Dutch East India Companies.
