Anglo-Indian Game Counter Box w/ Ivory Lac Counters, Vizagapatam Region, c.1860

Antiques : Game Counters Box : Anglo Indian (Square)

 

A beautiful horn, ivory and sandalwood games counter box, made in the Vizagapatam region of British India, c.1860, for sale to the British market. The box is a square shape, with a very slightly “domed” lid, and with sandalwood carcass veneered in horn and beaded ivory strapping, inlay and fretwork. The interior has four ivory-bordered sandalwood “blocks” – two that are square and two that are oblong – that lift out. Each “block” houses ivory game counters – four round game counters in each of the square “blocks” and 3 oblong game counters in each of the oblong “blocks,” for a total of 14 in all. The counters are incised and lac filled to exquisite designs. The lid closes, held in place by a locking pin; the box once had a key and locking mechanism, but there is no key now and the lid does not lock on. When the “blocks” are in the box, the lid is a tight fit to close, and must be opened carefully. The box measures approximately 3.7” square and sits 1.9” high at the highest point, including the ivory feet. The rectangular counters are 69mm by 16mm, and the round counters are 32mm in diameter.

There are missing beads on the sides of the base of the box, and a couple of the right angle straps on the lid are split along the right angle seam. The back hinges are more recent, and there is evidence that the ivory adjacent to these hinges was lifted and re-glued in connection with the hinge restoration. The sandalwood pieces at the base and at the underside of the lid have each developed a hairline crack – very typical in sandalwood pieces of this age. All of these issues are noted, but they are minor quibbles in a box of this kind. This is a wonderful example of Vizagapatam craftsmanship, in outstanding condition.

The lac counters are in excellent condition, without issues of any kind that I can discern.

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Item ID: T0000790