An Anglo-Indian ebony dressing table mirror Vizagapatam, mid 18th century

with a swivelling plate, the flap enclosing a fitted interior of seven drawers and three pigeon-holes, with a drawer below fitted with compartments with shaped dividers, on ebonised bracket feet

The scheme of marquetry decoration is typical of mid-18th century Vizagapatam furniture manufactured both for the local English colonial settlers and the European export market. Its form is closely based on early 18th century English prototypes whilst the inlaid decoration is purely of eastern character. The ivory inlaid floral and foliate motifs replicate the designs commonly found on brightly coloured Indian textiles such as palampores, which had proved to be immensely popular  in the west since the 17th century.  Comparable examples without mirror superstructures include one in the collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum and another with a stand by Thomas Chippendale, supplied to Sir Edward Knatchbull at Mersham-le-Hatch in 1767, are illustrated in Amin Jaffer, Furniture from British India and Ceylon, 2001, p.189.  A rosewood writing box of similar configuration sold Sotheby's, Easton Neston, 17-19 May 2005, lot 119.