Beschreibung:

Y AN INDO-PORTUGUESE TEAK, EBONY AND IVORY PARQUETRY CONTADOR OR CABINET ON STAND GOA, LATE 17TH/EARLY 18TH CENTURY With pierced gilt metal copper handles and escutcheons 137.5cm high, 94cm wide, 50cm deep See Amin Jaffer, Luxury Goods from India, p59, for a comparable cabinet on stand. 'This cabinet is of a form that was much reproduced under Portuguese patronage in India. The pattern of stars and intersecting circles that adorns this cabinet is perhaps the most commonly reproduced motif ... found on articles commissioned by the Portuguese. The most distinctive feature of such furniture is the sculptural treatment of the legs, which are usually conceived as supporting figures. These assume a variety of human and animal forms. The most common are creatures with the upper body of a man or woman and a scaled lower body like a sea serpent. Past scholars have identified these with nagas and naginis, Hindu snake divinities that are considered auspicious and are believed to provide protection from dangers, including snake bites. For similar examples see F Castro Freire, Mobilario Vol II, 2002, p79 and Somogy, La Route des Indes, 1998, p24. For a related chest on stand with comparable parquetry see Christie's, Duarte Pinto Coelho Collection, London, 20-21 July 2011, lot 300 (£37,250). For a related half size chest with comparable handles, escutcheons and parquetry see Christie's, Around the World, London, 28 April 2015, lot 184 (£18,750). Please note: Dreweatts have applied for a de minimis exemption licence for the ivory in this lot (Ref: BA1HAE5P)