Lot 258 , A large Chinese carved sandalwood box, 19th century, 40.5cm wide, Provenance - A. T. Arber-Cooke

A large Chinese carved sandalwood box, 19th century, the domed top and sides carved in high relief and openwork with figures amid pavilions and trees, scrolling foliate borders, maker's label to interior, 40.5cm wide, Provenance - A. T. Arber-Cooke
Estimate £200-300

Threre a few small shrinkage splits to the wood on the joints at the corners and edges. There is a small loss to the carving on the central panel of the cover, otherwise in good condition.

Provenance - Alfred Theodore Arber-Cooke (c.1905-1993); thence by family descent. Arber-Cooke was an antiquarian and avid collector of Asian works of art, and antiquities principally collecting from the 1930s to the 1970s. He amassed a good reference library on Chinese & Asian coins and wrote on several occasions (1969-70) to to the academic F.A. Turk regarding the study of coin amulets and other non-currency coinages of China. A number of the Asian numismatic reference books will be offered in our 29th March sale.

Arber-Cooke initially lived in Wimbledon, Greater London and was involved with the Surrey Archaeological Society. He wrote the book 'Old Wimbledon', with a foreword the MP Sir Arthur Fell, published in 1927. He later moved to Llandovery in Carmarthenshire, Wales, again involved with local archaeology and wrote the History of Llandovery, published in 1975.


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 £900