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Source Description
This ivory box is a pastiche of several different carved panels. While one cannot be certain when it was put together, the panels probably date from the 17th century. Even though the side panels do not seem to match and have different designs, the quality of the deep carving is of a uniformly high standard. Almost all the motifs are vegetal in nature, consisting of boldly delineated rhizomes or scrolling vines with flowers and acanthus leaves. The only segment that has integrity and harmony of design is the top of the lid, which, along the bottom front panel and keyhole, may have been part of the original box. Although not a religious object, this box reflects an interest in flora similar to representations of nature deities. It is possible that the original box was carved in northern India for an affluent Muslim patron, perhaps crafted for a noble lady to store her jewelry and personal effects.
Scholar Source Context
Document identity
localId
37664
label
Box with Vegetal Forms
core
obj
dtoType
object
citationUrl
pageCount
7
Source metadata
id
37664
sourceUrl
contentType
object
stage
normalized
title
Box with Vegetal Forms
description
This ivory box is a pastiche of several different carved panels. While one cannot be certain when it was put together, the panels probably date from the 17th century. Even though the side panels do not seem to match and have different designs, the quality of the deep carving is of a uniformly high standard. Almost all the motifs are vegetal in nature, consisting of boldly delineated rhizomes or scrolling vines with flowers and acanthus leaves. The only segment that has integrity and harmony of design is the top of the lid, which, along the bottom front panel and keyhole, may have been part of the original box. Although not a religious object, this box reflects an interest in flora similar to representations of nature deities. It is possible that the original box was carved in northern India for an affluent Muslim patron, perhaps crafted for a noble lady to store her jewelry and personal effects.
provenance
John and Berthe Ford, Baltimore [date and mode of acquisition unknown]; Walters Art Museum, 2002, by gift.
date
17th century (Mughal)
citationUrl
rightsUri
CC0
language
en
genreSpecific
Ivory & Bone
boxes (containers)
imageCount
7
pageCount
7
source
import
dimensions
units
cm
width
17.5
height
29.8
depth
29.2
dimensionsRaw
H: 6 7/8 x W: 11 3/4 x D: 11 1/2 in. (17.5 x 29.8 x 29.2 cm)
Source extras
med
ivory, wood, metal
creator_ids
2191
collection_ids
INT
exhibition_ids
none
Page inventory
seq
1
type
photo
mediaId
9428b2c3b6a296b3
hasOcr
no
hasDescription
no
seq
2
type
photo
mediaId
0ee5054ec920b0ed
hasOcr
no
hasDescription
no
seq
3
type
photo
mediaId
f0295d6c719fcd87
hasOcr
no
hasDescription
no
seq
4
type
photo
mediaId
1053647d317d2d4e
hasOcr
no
hasDescription
no
seq
5
type
photo
mediaId
9eb6fe7c28ddf755
hasOcr
no
hasDescription
no
seq
6
type
photo
mediaId
7c95898e1a4829ac
hasOcr
no
hasDescription
no
seq
7
type
photo
mediaId
63e39e293cde500b
hasOcr
no
hasDescription
no