A Dutch-colonial Sinhalese tortoiseshell pomander with gold mounts
Sri Lanka, 18th century
Diam. 12 cm
Provenance:
Acquired by descent by the previous owner
(by repute in the family since at least the late 18th century)
The round openwork tortoiseshell box is carved with squirrels and birds among the flowering vines. The box has lots of similarities with the Tibetan and Chinese style incense burners.
Diam. 12 cm
Provenance:
Acquired by descent by the previous owner
(by repute in the family since at least the late 18th century)
The round openwork tortoiseshell box is carved with squirrels and birds among the flowering vines. The box has lots of similarities with the Tibetan and Chinese style incense burners.
Part of the Indian Ocean collection.
Related objects
A Sri Lankan Tortoiseshell and Ivory veneered writing-box
Sri Lankan tortoiseshell writing box
A pair of Chinese elaborately carved tortoiseshell round boxes
The top and bottom of both boxes are finely carved with figures in Chinese landscapes. Around the side of one box the following text is carved Marinus Aalbertus van den Abeelen, Canton 1825 and around the other Hermanus van den Abeelen, Broederlijk aandenken van MAVDA Canton 1825.
A Dutch engraved brass snuff box in the form of a tortoise
_Northern Netherlands, 18th century_ _L. 10 cm_ Provenance: Private collection, Canada with inscription: _“Giese en Anne met die mans toonen hier een lichten Dans.”_ (“Giese and Anne with these men show here a light dance.”)