An 18th-century Vizagapatam worked Macassar ebony and penworked ivory Anglo-Indian deed box, the top inlaid with a central spray and within borders of flowers and vines, the hinged cover opening to reveal a lift-out tray and concealed sovereign drawers. 56 cm wide x 40 cm deep x 14 cm high, 10.5 kg gross weight

Ivory certification reference M14H94FL.

Please be aware, that if you are bidding from outside of the UK, the receiving country may have restrictions on the transportation of Ivory across their international borders.

Condition Report

The top panel has an old crack across the centre that is filleted and secured but could use a sympathetic colour job to blend it in. The top also has a smaller fine crack near the floral border. The inlay is slightly recessed in places but seems intact. Some wood around the inlay is a little chipped (ebony is brittle in use).

The front top mould is bumped to the corner at one end, the front bottom moulding has a fine crack.

The right-hand top return moulding has a corresponding bump where it mitres into the front moulding, and the bottom return mould on the same side.

The back top moulding has a rather clumsy composition repair near the hinge and the bottom moulding has an old scarf jointed repair.

The left-hand side has some well-done splices to the top and bottom return mouldings

All faces of the carcass are without cracks or splits or missing inlay.

The interior of the cover shows old cracks between planks that make up the "Wide Boarded" top, The underside looks to have strange bloom like a vapor bloom from a CA glue, the removable insert i n the base shows some old CA glue repairs, this would account for the bloom (it rubs off )

The facia is intact but the lock is missing.

The interior is fitted with probably the original silver-plated and glass sander and inkwell and two other close-plated and glass pots

The central removable tray has a chip that has been crudely glued back and I can see evidence of glue fixing the bottom board of this tray.

The hidden (ish!) sovereign drawers are intact but could do with easing to make them easily opening.

The bottom panel is intact without splits.

Please see the extra images that illustrate the above points.