Bible Box...Writing Desk...??? Portuguese..Dutch.Colonial Period...?? Not sure about value..??

I was tagged but it seems you have found the answer

 

Just to be clear this is not my field and the above comment was in no way a endorsement of a "Dutch Colonial period in Ceylon" assessment. I have many pieces from Ceylon, none dating back that far but what I would expect is a local timber resistant to worm, ebony, sandalwood ect. I'm not saying they aren't right, just I would expect typing in "Dutch Colonial period Ceylon furniture" into google would result in more than one vendor describing the same style as yours.

 

No problem..Thanks anyway...All info are useful..jb

 

That was me, before BTZ revealed he already had an answer he was happy with before he posted. Sorry about that, but thanks for looking.

 

....No problem (wse)...Don't worry and particularly...Be Happy..!!!...

 

Just to make sure, BTZ. You do know that if an item that is traditional to India, Sri Lanka, you name it, was made during a particular colonial period, it is still traditional Indian, Sri Lankan, etc? Not colonial.
They had an identity and culture before the Europeans came along, and for the most part they kept that identity and culture. Part of most Asian cultures was and still is to have valuable items, and boxes for valuables.
You mentioned pettagamas/pettagams. Those were made long before any European set foot on Sri Lankan shores, just like many other Asian cultures made their boxes before European arrival. Did Europeans use Asian valuables boxes? Sure they did.

I know you like items related to the VOC (Dutch East India Company).
For an item to be accepted as VOC related, you need proof. Either the VOC mark (not faked!) or other accepted mark (Batavia silver mark etc), or proof of ownership by someone who worked for the VOC in Asia.
There are certainly specific Dutch colonial styles. The display cabinets you posted are typically Dutch colonial. The woods used are typical of Sri Lankan furniture. Ergo: Dutch period on Sri Lanka. Made for either colonials, affluent locals or affluent Burghers. Burghers (= citizens) were former Portuguese slaves of Indian or African descent who had been liberated by the Dutch and given a social status between the Europeans and the Singhalese.
If those cabinets have a genuine VOC mark, they are VOC related.

As for European items found in Asia, those are of course introduced either through international trade, or by colonials. When they were introduced is not always clear. People in the 19th century collected antiques, and took those with them. If those items appear on old inventory lists or are part of an archaeological dig, exact dating is more likely.

 

If I had to describe this box I would say it's Dutch, around 17-18th c or maybe a 19th c copy, although without a close look I can't tell exactly the age as some maybe a later addition.

 

Thanks for your responses and interest.....First of all,I would like to tell you that all those items came from a Notable well known Personality Painter from Srilanka...That I met in the 90th.....Unfortunately this person has died...And God bless her for the beautiful and really friendly moments we spent together in their Colombo 7 superb house......Yes I have been lucky to buy a lot from them as I was working at the time in Oman....From Old Jewelry,Stones Furniture and other..I have had as of today an 100% estimation and valuation very accurate from diverse sources.....My only concern...And as per many followers of my collection...It should go back to Srilanka one day...Not pieces by pieces but for an accurate collector or museum....As per Richard Leslie Brohier Book called Furniture of the Dutch Period in Ceylon ....You will have the all information of what has been created from end of 17th to end of 18th cent in Ceylon Furniture makers ....The timbers,the style....Which by the way had a new fashion in the 18th cent to remove the old fashion cheese feet replaced by Cabriolet legs and to add additional brass buddhism fittings on some items...As it was the fashion in Europe...Coming from France and England....Now....I have no problem if you desire I give you more details on the Bible box to look and check...Pls let me know with details...I previousely put as a tread my Martaban jar which was as per the person I bought (Sraswati Rockwood) one of the only 4 or 5 left in the island of Srilanka...When I made research with you and other sources...I got quite reference on ebay...or basic sources it could be chinese or indonesian from 18 or 19 th century...Well I know as of today that this jar Martaban is for sure coming from the Myanmar cost and could be older than 17th cent ...?? Will let you know with facts asap.Colonial Dutch Ceylonese furniture which years after years had to be a little changed as per who was the colonial state in charge.....But my early period items have to go bck to Srilanka or Holland one day.....Thanking you again for your interest....Sorry for my English...But I hope you understood it...Yours faithfully..JJB

 

BTZ, do you mean this thread?

https://www.antiquers.com/threads/java-burma-indonesian-ceramic-oil-or-spice-jar-xiiith-cent.46133/

A general note on martaban storage jars:
They are named after a Burmese/Myanmar port that supplied fresh water etc to international ships. The old name of the port was Martaban, the current name is Mottama.
Most were made in coastal China, but the Chinese had stationed potters and ceramics restorers in ports in other parts of Asia, including Martaban. Production in those ports was very small, the bulk still came from China.
Pre-1600 most trading ships in South and Southeast Asia were Chinese, hence the Chinese origin of most jars. They had a supply of their own Chinese storage jars in Martaban, where they exchanged the empty jars for full ones.
Most martabans are fairly narrow and tall. (On Borneo they were even used for burials.) Martabans have multiple small rings positioned at intervals around the neck for a rope to pass through, because they were tied to the ships railings and to each other.
Unfortunately some early Europeans who saw the jars being loaded aboard ships in Martaban assumed all jars were made there. This has since been rectified.

The next biggest suppliers of storage jars were Thailand and Annam. Stylistically jars from these two are difficult to tell apart. Their jars are smaller than most Chinese martabans.

If you are talking about the storage jar in the link I posted above, I can only advise you again to contact the Princessehof Museum in Friesland. They are the world's leading experts on Martabans and similar storage jars, and they work closely with Asian researchers and museums.
Don't rely on google, rely on their epertise instead.

 

What was that song from Frozen ? Let it go ?

 

Beats me why this thread was started! If the OP is the world expert in this stuff and has iron-clad provenance WTF is he asking us about the gear for?

 

Excellent question. Looks like another in our regular cases of a poster asking for a backup opinion of something he/she already "knows," then disagreeing with everyone who doesn't back him/her up. I have to say this person is more polite and cheerful than most.

However, the more an o.p. digs in their heels, the less credible their case becomes. It does seem odd that a renowned expert would even bother to ask a public forum like this one about something like this.

 

There is a flip side to the above posts and, it relates to a darker motive.
Trying to validate an object vis a vis forums like this to market the object.
I dimly remember someone a while back INSISTING a 3 leg chair was a 17th-century piece when clearly that was false.
Thread droned on and on for many pages like this one is starting too......

 

I remember it well. Same kind of thing......

 

A big Thanks to YOU....I should receive very soon some very interesting information regarding my Jar....And you just mentioned from where those info will come from...Will copy and publish it asa received on your tread....Thanks again...jjb