An Anglo-Indian etched ivory and sandalwood table bureau cabinet, Vizagapatam, late 18th century

profusely decorated with foliate motifs, tigers, mahogany tress and architectural capricci, the upper section with a broken pediment above a long frieze drawer above four short drawers flanked by two cupboard doors each enclosing two pigeon holes above three short drawers, the lower section with a fall front enclosing an arrangement of drawers, pigeon holes and concealed compartments above a long drawer, on bracket feet

Related Literature:
Amin Jaffer, Furniture from British India and Ceylon, London, 2001.

Overall in reasonable condition. The top pediment is very slightly loose and there is a small loss to the left hand side of the highest drawer. The ivory panels to the top section have a number of secured hairline cracks all of which are secure. The fall front to the base has been damaged to both the left and right hand side and undergone some repair. The central panel to the fall front has hair line cracks and some lifting to the right hand side. The fitted interior is in good condition. The drawer below the fall front formerly fitted with compartments which are now lacking. There are minor areas of discoloration to the ivory veneer and the handles and washers to the lopers appear to be replaced. The back of both sections have later bracket supports which would have held the cabinet in place where it was exhibited. With some old marks and scratches, and patched holes where handles may have been formerly fitted, commensurate with age and use.
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This highly ornate piece of furniture is part of a larger group of ivory veneered cabinets and boxes originating in Vizagapatam on the East coast of India. Although the origin of this exceptional inlay is not known by 1756, twelve years before the region was ceded to the East India Company, Major John Corneille noted that ‘the place [Vizagapatam] is remarkable for its inlay, and justly, for they do it to the greatest perfection’ (Jaffer, op. cit., p. 172). Vizagapatam’s fame grew as trade increased through its tactically important port and word spread of the quality and beauty of the objects produced by local artisans. Although limited documentary evidence survives, a number of commissions by British Governors of India are demonstrative of the extraordinary object produced. Cabinets, chairs and boxes purchased or commissioned by Edward Harrison, Richard Benyon, Alexander Wynch and most famously Warren Hastings are still held in important collections to this day.

The present bureau cabinet is a particularly fine example of this type of work. Constructed during the last quarter of the 18^th century the bureau reflects a Georgian form, employing a neo-classical architectural relief and incorporating stylised European architecture to the engraved panels. Amin Jaffer notes that cabinet makers in Vizagapatam used prints derived from Colen Campbell’s Vetruvius Britannicus to draw inspiration for their engravings (op. cit., p. 202). Indeed one cabinet in the Rijksmuseum made for J W Janssen, the Dutch Governor of the Cape Colony, has an engraving of Lowther Castle to the fall front. The mixture of Indian and European decorative themes is further underlined by the use of Indian mahogany trees to the front and finely engraved Indian Tigers to the pediment. A similar miniature bureau-cabinet is preserved in the Royal Collection (illustrated in The Grosvenor House Art and Antiques Fair Handbook, 2003, p.6), and was bought by George III for Queen Charlotte in 1781. Queen Charlotte evidently greatly favoured these pieces; for she continued to collect Anglo-Indian furniture and went on to create an 'Indian Room' for her collection of ivory pieces at Frogmore.