Indo-Portuguese Mughal casket, West India, 17th century
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9500 € (port +150€)
Others, Louis XIII, XVII

Precious wooden chest with numerous bone inlays from the 17th century. Its drop-leaf reveals six drawers.

This delicate object was intended to hold the personal belongings of merchants and travelers, such as important papers and jewelry. The removable handles attest to the portable nature of the piece. It is likely that the large drawer on the upper level of our chest may have housed a few precious notes and contracts, while the other smaller drawers were intended for valuables. These chests were made in Western India, which was the nerve center for the exchange of luxury goods. A few 17th-century English travelers attest to the quality of these chests. European demand was very high. Our chest most likely comes from one of the main trading centers in Western India under Portuguese influence.

Goa, Gujarat, Surat, and Cambay are indeed cosmopolitan trading centers with a strong European presence. In these places, it is possible to purchase ready-made objects or to hire craftsmen by providing them with certain materials or the necessary funds to acquire raw materials. In India, these artisans are called "Sutar," "Barhi," "Mistri," "Asari," or "Vadrangi." The know-how is passed down from generation to generation, and the techniques are jealously guarded; they are not passed on to outsiders. The most luxurious creations, like our box, were traded in the largest trading centers in India.

As early as the 16th century, Portugal opened several trading posts in India, with religious as well as economic aims. The commercial competition between European powers was dominated by Portugal. The city of Goa became the capital of a blend of Portuguese influences and local expertise, whether in sculpture, painting, or furniture. It is called the "Rome of the East." The creations of Gujarat, possibly the city that witnessed the creation of our box, are also renowned. (Cups, basins, powder flasks, etc.)

Our casket is lavishly veneered and inlaid with bone on all sides, as well as on the back of the flap, featuring plant motifs, foliage, and bouquets. Themes of nature, exotic plants, and flowers were highly prized in 17th-century Europe. These motifs are also found on our casket, which features a rich and generous decoration of numerous intertwined flowers, plants, and trees. It should also be noted that floral motifs were very important in early 17th-century Indian art; they were not secondary decorations but rather the main and central theme. This phenomenon originated in the art of the Mughal Empire, hence the name sometimes given to this type of object, the "Mughal Casket." Portugal maintained close ties with the Mughal Empire from the 16th century onward.

It is important to note that unlike other Indo-Portuguese boxes, ours is also adorned with a veneer with fine decorations on the back. It was therefore intended to be placed in the center of a table after a long journey on the roads of India so that it could be contemplated from all angles, and not against a wall.

The combination of Western forms of large and small furniture with Indian materials and decorative techniques has given rise to a wide range of luxury products, including caskets, armchairs, cabinets, tables, and more. These are superbly crafted and therefore highly valued by Europeans. This is the case with the piece we are presenting.

In the book "Luxury Goods from India: The Art of the Indian Cabinet-Maker," author Amin Jaffer specifies that some products were intended to be offered as diplomatic gifts.

17th century period. Typical restorations, notably the filled lock and the four small feet.

Length: 23.5 cm
Height: 14.5 cm
Depth: 17.5 cm