Indo-portuguese Cabinet, 18th Century

- A portable Indo-Portuguese cabinet, dating from the 18th century, adorned with marquetry in teak, ebony, and ivory.

- This highly decorative box directly reflects the history of the European presence on the Asian continent. Indeed, from the 16th century onward, the arrival of the Portuguese in India fostered the spread of Western culture among the local elites and the production of everyday objects in a hybrid style known as "Indo-Portuguese." Many boxes and cabinets, then fashionable at the Lisbon court, were made of exotic woods and inlaid with ivory, like the one presented here.

- Rectangular in shape, this cabinet opens at the front with a hinged lid fitted with a lock. All of its exterior surfaces are inlaid with lozenge motifs (ebony) enclosing a white disc (ivory). The corners are decorated with openwork gilt copper appliqués, resembling lace. The exquisite craftsmanship of this box continues inside. Once opened, a set of drawers is revealed, allowing the collector to conceal precious objects. The interior of the drop-front, as well as those of the drawers, perfectly match the marquetry described earlier. Small handles on the sides indicate the intended use of this cabinet. The interior of the cabinet appears to be organized into nine independent drawers, each with a gilt copper handle. In reality, the drawers in the top row are joined together, as are the central drawers in the second and third rows. This arrangement allows for the storage of objects of varying widths and heights.

It is in good condition, with some restorations (side handles and lock are later additions).

Dimensions: Height: 31.5 cm, Width: 43.4 cm, Depth: 35 cm