box, rectangular, possibly a games box. The ivory has been extensively engraved with floral and foliate borders and panels of architectural scenes. The engraving work has then been darkened with lac. The architectural scenes are on all four sides as well as the lid. The decoration is of architectural and garden scenes of colonial houses [pavilions] and gardens of formal trees and bordered by flowing floral patterns. The box stands on four bracket feet that also are clad in ivory.

The hinged lid opens to reveal a sandalwood interior with two lidded compartments that open with ring pulls. The interior fitted with compartments and containing [later] Victorian domino set.

The decoration on this box with the fantastical architectural and garden scenes within floral and leaf borders is typical of Vizagapatam work. The scenes were based on Dutch and other European engravings of European buildings and plans for buildings. The engravings became the basis of stylised and fantasy representations in the hands of the Vizagapatam craftsmen.

Such a box would have been considered a show piece and placed on a table in a prominent place. Such items were produced in Vizagapatam on India’s Coromandel Coast for export to Europe.

Vizagapatam on the northern Coromandel coast is a natural harbour midway between Calcutta and Madras. The British East India Company had an important trading station there and a tradition grew in Vizagapatam for the manufacture of objects and furniture of Western form, decorated in a distinctive manner, all being inlaid or veneered with black lacquer. The decoration was drawn from Mogul culture, adapted to appeal to western taste.