Antique Victorian Era Vizagapatam Horn & Carved Ivory Desk Casket, Stamps Box

Fabulous antique mid 19th century Victorian era Anglo-Indian Vizagapatam stamps box or desk casket, circa 1840s, with genuine horn veneers, carved ivory accenting and original interior. Referred to as Vizagapatam or Sadeli boxes because of their origins, made in British East India for the European market and aren't they gorgeous! The box is made of sandalwood but completely covered in genuine horn veneers and topped with ornate ivory or bone fretwork or frieze work and strapping. It sits on carved lion'™s paw feet. The box is decorated with a floral motif using black "lac", an ink derived from secretions of female lac beetles found in the forests of India and Thailand (where we get the term shellac). The central cartouche or medallion on the lid depicts a figure, also in black lac. The inside has four compartments, separated by the sandalwood partitions, as you would find with an old stamps box. Anglo Indian boxes were made in India for the English residents from the early part of the