Superb Antique Sadeli Box

This is a superb Anglo Indian Moorish style micro mosaic inlaid jewellery box in excellent original condition. The repeating geometric patterns of Sadeli Mosaic are what give these artworks their true beauty and richness. A highly skilled art this craft has its origins in India and the Middle East with early examples dating back to the 16th century. In the 1800s it became popular as decoration on a variety of boxes, card cases and chess boards imported from India. Since Bombay became a centre for their manufacture they became known as Bombay boxes. The ancient art of Sadeli Mosaic is said to have been introduced from Shiraz in Persia via Sind to Bombay a long time before the Indian boxes appeared. The designs on the early boxes look deceptively simple however the fact is they emerged from a culture which had mastered geometry and understood how to generate a pattern from a set number of points. The patterns are so harmoniously combined that their incredible complexity isn’t immediately apparent to the viewer. This fine example is similar to one in the Doris Duke Islamic Art Museum.