Antique Indian Polychrome Carved Dowry Box with Peacocks, 1900s

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A wonderfully characterful antique Indian dowry box, richly carved and decorated in vibrant polychrome, dating to the late 19th or … Read more A wonderfully characterful antique Indian dowry box, richly carved and decorated in vibrant polychrome, dating to the late 19th or early 20th century.

Acquired as a dowry chest, this smaller casket-sized example would have been suited to storing jewellery, personal possessions, textiles or other valued objects associated with marriage and the household.

The substantial hardwood box is carved in deep relief throughout. Against a predominantly black ground are scrolling flowers, foliage and striking animal and bird motifs picked out in red, green, ochre, brown and gilt tones.

The hinged lid is particularly sculptural, with a pair of large stylised birds, likely peacocks, facing downwards amongst carved scrollwork. Additional bird decoration appears to the end, while the two long sides are centred respectively by a bird surrounded by foliage and a wonderfully naïve boar-like animal flanked by large floral roundels.

The carving has an appealing folk quality, with strong three-dimensional modelling and considerable variation from one side to another. Decades of rubbing, chipping and paint loss have exposed areas of the timber beneath, creating a beautifully aged and layered surface.

The interior is painted in a muted mauve-pink tone, which appears to be a later decorative treatment. The original external decoration has deliberately been left untouched, preserving the extensive patina and imperfections that give the piece its distinctive presence.

At 48 cm wide, it is a particularly decorative size: substantial enough to make an impact on a console, sideboard or large table, while remaining practical as a storage box. See less