A carved ebonised padouk bench, Coromandel Coast, Eastern India early 19th century

the foliate carved frame with a caned seat, on twist-carved legs joined by a stretcher

An attractive and useful with finely carved detail. Some wholes to the canning which will need attention. Some minor chips to carving around the top edge commensurate with age and use and some minor warping to timbers which doesn't detract. Later supports to the seat rail. Colour slightly uneven.
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Carved seat furniture of this type was made throughout South and South East Asia, particularly along the Coromandel Coast of India and in Batavia (Indonesia) or Ceylon, and the present bench would appear to have originated in the former location. George Rumphius (1627-1702) wrote of the ebony furniture that 'the Coromandel Coast is exceptionally richly provided of this ebony, as the natives make from it all kinds of curious work, as chairs, benches and small tables carving them out with foliage and sculpture, and this so skilful and with so little tools, also for so small a price, that it is to be wondered at.'