We're proud to present this exceptionally rare and important 400 year old early Baroque Period Indo-Portuguese caixa contador, in Rosewood, Teak, Ebony, Bone, and Ivory marquetry-work, dating to the first half of the 17th century, probably made in Gujarat or Sindh, India, and finished in royal Mughal court taste.
Exquisitely hand-crafted, circa 1625, the scarce and unusual fine quality antique cabinet features a rectangular form teakwood carcass of dovetailed construction, intricately detailed and richly decorated in rosewood palisander, ebony moldings, bone and ivory inlaid string banding, geometric, and flower head inlay, the side panels adorned with hand-forged iron carrying handles, drop front door on iron strap hinges, opening to reveal an interior fitted with an array six drawers of various size, all constructed with hand cut dovetail joinery, paneled, the central with ornate shield shaped iron escutcheon plate.
NOTES:
A similar example is known to exist in a important Portuguese private collection in Oporto. With other similarly designed examples seen in various museum collections, including the Museu Nacional de Arte Antiga in Lisbon.
Fall front cabinets such as this were designed for and popular amongst European merchants, traders and officials living and traveling in Asia. This cabinet belongs to one of the earliest identifiable groups of furniture made in India under Portuguese patronage in the 16th and early 17th Centuries. A caixa contador, (loosely translated money safe...
Category
17th Century Indian Baroque Antique Ivory Decorative Boxes