Lot 257 , A good and impressive Chinese export ivory sewing casket, 19th century, width 39cm depth 27cm height 18.5cm

A good and impressive Chinese export ivory sewing casket, 19th century, of elongated octagonal form, the hinged cover and sides deeply carved with figures amid pavilions and trees, flanked by a pair of dragon carved hinged handles, the cover opening to reveal an interior comprehensively fitted with cylindrical boxes, cotton thread spools, a sewing clamp and a pair of lidded compartments in a fitted tray above a single base drawer, the lower frieze carved with flowers and scrolling foliage, on four animal mask and paw feet, width 39cm depth 27cm height 18.5cm
Estimate £6,000-8,000

There is some slight shrinkage to the top panel and slight gaps have opened up around the very edges where it joins the border, in some places it has pulled away a narrow line of ivory and front left there is a slight gap and loss to the ivory where light shows through from the underside, the top panel is made from two pieces of ivory and there is a very slight movement in the join on the far left otherwise good, there is some evidence of some modern glue where the joints have dried out and they have been stuck back together on the corners, to both hinges the right hinge lacking one screw and particularly around the base, frieze and to the four legs where some slight gaps have opened up where there has been shrinkage, on the front left leg a small piece of additional ivory has been inserted and near the front right leg a small thin wedge piece of ivory has been later inserted and on the left hand frieze there is a small section lacking of the floral pierced work, there is a slight gap around the sides and back between where the hinge cover fits the body, partly due to the hinges being slightly bent outward, the rear left hinge has chunked out a tiny bit of ivory where a screw has come out, the base panel of the casket is made up of four strips of ivory where gaps have opened up slightly with glue between and a couple of these some bits have been splintered out and been glued back in, this isn't visible when the tray is in position and as there is also a base drawer hiding this, the base drawer has a triangular section of the top left panel broken and restuck which isn't really visible on the exterior and the interior ivory linings of the drawer have some re-glueing to the strips at the base and the joins at the corner, there is also a couple of sections of the ivory on the right drawer lining which have been broken out and re-glued, on the interior is a fitted tray with various accessories as follows: two lidded compartments carved with bitter melon, both made from two sections of joined ivory then carved, one of these contains two needle cases and a sewing lamp and an elliptical thread spool, there is an additional carved sewing clamp, a long rotating spool, a separate spool, six thread crosses, a thimble, various bodkins, two cylindrical boxes and cover, four barrel shaped cotton thread dispensers - one is missing the turned rod from the centre, there is some shrinkage to the base panel of the tray with an open gap to one side and other sections have been reglued, underneath the tray in the box is another panel made up from 5 sections of ivory again with some shrinkage and splitting to the areas, otherwise in remarkably complete condition with typical shrinkage and often these boxes have been reglued where they have dried out.


Descriptions provided in both printed and on-line catalogue formats do not include condition reports. The absence of a condition statement does not imply that the lot is in perfect condition or completely free from wear and tear, imperfections or the effects of aging. Interested bidders are strongly encouraged to request a condition report on any lots upon which they intend to bid, prior to placing a bid. All transactions are governed by Gorringes Conditions of Sale.

Sold for £11,000