An Anglo-Indian brass and ivory inlaid tortoiseshell, ebony, padouk-wood and rosewood table cabinet 18th century, adapted in London in the early 19th century

the leather inset fall opening to reveal an arrangement of six drawers inlaid with geometric and foliate motifs

Decorative. The rosewood exterior with loss of timber to lower right side (approx. 9cm. high, 0.7cm. wide). The brass inlay with lifting that will require workshop attention. The back with a minor indent. The sides with filled apertures possibly from former carrying handles. The interior with a later boxwood inlaid division between two of the drawers on the left side.
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

The wonderful geometric inlay employed in this box is referred to as Sadeli, finely worked micromosaic within borders of sandalwood, ivory and ebony. This technique is often given to Bombay as a source and the city was certainly the centre of production, although, Amin Jaffir, Furniture From British India and Ceylon, London, 2001, p. 233 and p. 313, illustrates fine examples produced in both Bombay and Calcutta. They were highly treasured objects when they first started to appear in Britain and this would explain the high quality Regency case and adaptions. Queen Charlotte owned three Sadeli boxes, 2nd Lord Clive of Bombay had a workbox and William Beckford had a box in his extraordinary collection (op. cit. p. 315). This was work highly prized by the connoisseur and aesthete, collectors who could appreciate the fine quality and sophistication of the technique and the rich and exotic materials employed.