Enquiry about object: 4245
Dutch Colonial Chased, Oblong Silver Box
Dutch East Indies, probably Batavia 18th century
length: 14.3cm, width: 7.8cm, height: 3.8cm, weight: 228g
Provenance
UK art market
This box, of unusual form, is of solid silver and is most probably the work of silversmiths working in Batavia (now Jakarta), or possibly Sri Lanka, in the 18th century.
This example stands on four spherical feet. The lid is hinged and fits tightly. The box is in the form of an oval with scalloped ends. It is very finely chased on all sides with scrolling foliage and flowers within floral borders.
The box is in fine condition. There are no repairs, dents or splits. There are some later marks to the base – ‘800’ and ‘ND’.
Overall, this is a splendid example of Dutch colonial silverwork.
References
Coomaraswamy, A.K., Mediaeval Sinhalese Art, Pantheon Books, 1956 reprint of the 1908 edition.
Eliens, T.M., Silver from Batavia/Zilver uit Batavia, Gemeentemuseum Den Haag/W Books, 2012.
Veenendaal, J., Pers. comm.
Veenendaal, J., Asian Art and the Dutch Taste, Waanders Uitgevers Zwolle, 2014.
