Complete Description
De forme rectangulaire, à couvercle plat, finement ciselé de médaillons ovales, à décor d’oiseaux et de singes sur fond floral, le couvercle décoré de perruches, s’ouvrant sur un intérieur compartimenté, accidents.
Dim. : 13,5 x 30 x 22 cm
This casket is typical of the Mysore sandalwood carving workshops in southern India, renowned for their exceptional craftsmanship. From the nineteenth century onwards, artisans of the Gudigar caste, who maintained a hereditary tradition, regularly produced objects to meet growing European demand. These pieces are often decorated with animals, figures from the Hindu pantheon, and even biblical scenes. Fine examples are preserved in the Victoria and Albert Museum, London (see a similar casket: inv. 17-1852), while others have appeared at auction: Christie’s, London, 10 June 2013, lot 286, and Sotheby’s, London, 1 May 2019, lot 189.
