Brass Studded Rosewood Bombay Chest – 19th Century

This studded antique Indian chest is made from luscious rosewood. This style of Zanzibar chest is known as a Bombay chest, or a ‘category 3 shisham chest‘ in S Unwin’s seminal book. These chests were made South of Bombay. This one is larger than most chests of this style and has bum feet. You can see parallels with the Indo-Portuguese and Portuguese Brazilian furniture of earlier periods. A clear influence in style from the British occupation in India is also visible from the brass bindings on the side. 

The hinge finial is Bombay style An excellent example of Indian craftsmanship. These rosewood Indian boxes were used for storing valuables such as textiles, jewellery and cash. 

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For further reading see ‘The Arab Chest’ by Sheila Unwin.