An Indo-portuguese ivory-inlaid wood cabinet, Gujarat or Sind, 16th-17th century

of rectangular form with a hinged drop front revealing twelve panels forming ten drawers, each drawer with a turned ivory handle, the panels with ivory-inlaid scrolls flanked by micro-mosaic stellar roundels, the interior front with micro-mosaic quadrangles enclosed by borders of ivory-inlaid scrolls with floral terminals, the sides with a central hexagonal micro-mosaic medallion and the top with an octagonal micro-mosaic medallion bordered by foliate and floral ivory-inlaid borders, foliate drop handles to sides, with key



 

interior drawers in overall good condition, some loss of ivory inlay and micro-mosaic on exterior panels, top panel has some losses of wood on the extremities, otherwise in overall good condition, as viewed.
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

The fall-front cabinet was used as a strong box in which to store jewels, papers and other important or valuable articles, as evidenced in Mughal miniature painting, notably in the marginal decoration of a miniature from the period of Shah Jahan, where two servants place pearls, precious stones and jewellery in a wooden fall-front cabinet.  They were also popular among the European merchants who traded in Asia, indeed they are recognised as "a basic requirement of European merchants and traders living and travelling in Asia" (Jaffer 2002, p.18).

The scrolling foliate motifs and ivory eight-petalled rosettes in the border are closely comparable to a games board in the Victoria and Albert Museum attributed to the sixteenth century (ibid., no.4, p.21).