Lot 376
  • 376

A 'Shirazi' wood chest, Persia or Arabian Gulf, 18th century

Estimate
10,000 - 12,000 GBP
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Description

  • wood, metal
of rectangular form supported on four detachable feet, two of lion form, the front with three drawers each with paired loop handles, monumental brass palmette lock with three loops flanked by four bosses, faceted loop handles to the sides, the wood body decorated with brass bosses, studs and foliate openwork mounts punched and pierced, the hinged cover revealing internal compartment to interior

Catalogue Note

A number of similar chests to the present example are known, including those in the former Sultan's palace in Zanzibar, the Peace Memorial Museum, Stone Town, Zanzibar, and the Royal Geographical Society, London. For these, alongside a full discussion of the history, construction, origin and age of chests of this kind, see S. Unwin, The Arab Chest, London, 2006, pp.114-8.