Tuesday 10 June 2025
An Anglo-Indian sadeli work chest, Bombay, India, early 19th century Of rectangular shape, with...
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An Anglo-Indian sadeli work chest,
Bombay, India, early 19th century
Of rectangular shape, with...
Price Realised: £1,968
Estimate: £2,000 - £2,500
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Price realised is hammer price plus fees (31.2% Buyers Premium inclusive of VAT).
Lot 132
Description
An Anglo-Indian sadeli work chest,
Bombay, India, early 19th century
Of rectangular shape, with handle either side, decorated overall with geometric inlays, with a sandalwood interior fitted with a tray divided into various covered compartments fitted with ivory and sadeli lids, ivory pots, spools and a pin cushion
12.6 high x 43.2cm wide x 28.5cm deep
A comparative example is Illustrated in Amin Jaffer, Furniture from British India and Ceylon: A Catalogue of the Collections in the V&A and the Peabody Essex Museum, 2001, p. 313.
Workboxes, portable writing desks, inkstands and jewellery boxes were among the variety of nineteenth-century items decorated with geometric micromosaic patterns, called sadeli. Although the generic term “Bombay boxes” is used for a range of boxes decorated in this fashion, production was not limited to Bombay, as Amin Jaffer points out (Jaffer, 2001, p. 313). Sadeli boxes were popular souvenirs with travellers to India and Queen Charlotte owned three sadeli boxes “of Bombay work”(Jaffer 2001, p.314).
The sadeli technique came to India from Shiraz in the sixteenth century. It consists of binding together lengths of geometrically shaped rods of diverse materials such as tin, copper, horn, ivory, sappan wood and ebony arranged in symmetrical geometric patterns. These rods are sliced through transversely and formed into thin sheets of repeating patterns that are laid over and glued to the wooden carcass.
Fees & VAT
Buyer's Premium
The buyer shall pay the hammer price together with a premium thereon of 26% up to £20,000 (31.2% inclusive of VAT), 25% from £20,001 - £500,000 (30% inclusive of VAT), 20% from £500,001 thereafter (24% inclusive of VAT). The premium price is subject to VAT at the standard rate.
VAT
VAT is not charged on the hammer price unless it is stated that there is 'VAT applicable on the hammer price at the end of the description. Buyer's premium is subject to VAT.(ARR) - ARTIST'S RESALE RIGHT
Qualifying living artists and the descendants of artists deceased within the last 70 years are entitled to receive a re-sale royalty each time their work is bought through an auction house or art market professional.
It applies to lots with hammer value over £1,000 as follows:
0 to £50,000 - 4%
£50,000.01 to £200,000 - 3%
£200,000.01 to £350,000 - 1%
£350,000.01 to £500,000 - 0.5%
Exceeding £500,000 - 0.25%
ARR is capped at £12,500
Please note ARR is calculated in euros. Auctioneers will apply current exchange rates.
Export of goods
Buyers intending to export goods should ascertain whether an export licence is required before bidding. Export licences are issued by Arts Council England and application forms can be obtained from its Export Licensing Unit. Details can be found on the ACE website www.artscouncil.org.uk or by phoning ACE on 020 7973 5188. The need for import licences varies from country to country and you should acquaint yourself with all relevant local requirements and provisions before bidding. The refusal of any such licences shall not permit the cancelling of any sale nor allow any delay in making full payment for the lot.
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