Torr Antiques & Decorative Arts

Description

Anglo-Indian hardwood writing slope / lap desk with finely carved and inlaid top and sides, possessing a desirable colour and patina and in good overall condition. It dates from the 19th Century.

The corners of the box are inlaid with bone and each of the carved panels to the front and sides is framed with sadeli inlay work. The finely carved top on the wider lower section contains a central, eye-shaped vignette of a tiger attacking an elephant, and this is flanked by temples standing on rocks with the areas in between carved with exotic birds among foliage. A charming dog below the central vignette completes the composition. The narrower upper section depicts a temple flanked by two trees with exotic birds and animals frolicking among foliage.

The top opens to reveal a blue fabric covered writing slope and a number of compartments, some of which have carved lids in natural coloured wood. The glass inkwells that would have originally fitted in the two open corner compartments are absent.

I originally thought that the carved, stained external panels and the unstained internal compartments were made of sandalwood. However, I am unable to detect a typical sandalwood smell and have thus described it simply as hardwood

Size: 35 cm wide x 24.5 cm deep x 9 cm high. (18" x 10 1/2" x 6 1/4")

Condition: The box is generally in good condition. Some of the sadeli inlay is missing on the sides but as this is dark against dark coloured wood it is not obvious as you can see from the close-up pictures. This box is really all about the fine carving on top and so displays extremely well.