Featured Cheap Mid-Eastern Box

My problem is I already have a space issue and my wife keeps saying we have to many antiques, now I have to keep all this junk (firewood). It gets worse, 10 years ago the same friend bought me a modern Chinese inlaid coffee table top, no legs. It's lovely inlay but what am I meant to do with it? It's under the bed ATM and has been ever since he walked out the door 10 years ago.

 

As I've said the bottom 3 are a cut above the norm but still only post 1960's

 

One thing I would love to know is if the gold colour metal on old Khatam is gold or brass, it does say gold was used and these boxes are pre-1880's. I would have thought brass would tarnish over that period?

 

This from google's AI
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Yes, gold is a common material used in the ancient Persian art of khatam:

• Khatam: An ancient Persian art technique of inlaying, where intricate geometric patterns are created on wooden surfaces using precisely-cut pieces of wood, bone, metal, and other materials. Gold, silver, brass, aluminum, and twisted wire are all commonly used.

 

Yes, gold and silver were used.
Brass can tarnish, but it doesn't always look very tarnished. For instance, the brass in Bouille work (tortoiseshell inlaid with brass an pewter) usually looks good, even after 200+ years.

 

Thanks Raver-That tell-tale inlay reminds me of the inlay around the sound hole of very fine guitars.

Ditto AJ,I figure they mark it way up because you're getting the cachet of the BM.

Yep Davey-If I was going to dip back into 'hard labor' ,house clearance & the poss treasure hidden in the wreckage would be damn motivating !

 

After restoring 2 Boulle boxes in the last year I might have to disagree, I can't think of any brass under lacquer that lasts more than 100 years without discolouring. I would say the Khatam box above is at least 140 years old and to me it looks gold in colour. I'm not saying it's definitely gold but saying that I can't think of any Khatam I know of that definitely has gold in either and we know gold was used.

 

Oh agreed, the gift shop is not cheap! But they don’t sell anything ugly, so it’s a sort of a compliment IMO that they chose to retail marquetry like this - and they think they can sell it for that much!

 

I think these are lovely, although my taste might not be very refined. Worth working for… depending the work?

 

Davey knows more about this than me,but I'd assume-sometimes moving heavy furniture down stairs & more-seems risky even for a teenager ?

 

not this time..... but you've done your share in the past.... eh?!!!

 

Damn Davey-Sounds like you've got it made mate.Don't know if this is you or not-but I've met a few ex-cops who've taken early disability retirement & become Pickers.