An Anglo-Indian veneered ivory-inlaid table bureau with toilet glass, Vizagapatam, circa 1790-1800

This lot contains ivory. Sotheby’s recommends that buyers check with their own government regarding any importation requirements prior to placing a bid. For example, US regulations restrict the import of elephant ivory and prohibit the import of African elephant ivory, EU regulations restrict the import of elephant ivory from outside the EU and a registration system will be in force in the UK from 6 June 2022. Please note that Sotheby’s will not assist buyers with CITIES licence applications where a buyer elects to either collect or arrange their own shipping, nor will Sotheby’s assist with the international movement of ivory by air, either as freight or through hand carry. Please note that CITIES licences are required for the export of any restricted species from the UK, including EU countries. A buyer’s inability to export or import these lots cannot justify a delay in payment or sale cancellation.

This form of toilet glass with table bureau is based on a shape that was current in England in the first quarter of the eighteenth century and was copied by Indian craftsmen working for English patrons in India. Whilst the English prototype tends to be plain and undecorated, the Indian variant is richly embellished in ivory with exotic foliage inspired by designs on contemporary Coromandel coast chintzes produced primarily for the Dutch market (Jaffer 2001, pp.189-190). A very similar table bureau belonging to Clive of India is now at Powis Castle (see Jaffer 2001, fig.73, p.172).