λ AN IVORY-INLAID SANDALWOOD SADELI-WARE PORTABLE WRITING DESK
Possibly Mumbai (Bombay), Maharashtra, India, 19th century

Of rectangular shape, the scented sandalwood ivory-inlaid body faceted, with two hinged lids secured by a lock with key, the casket-shaped top lid covering an inner rectangular section with smaller compartments for writing tools' storage, the sloping front lid opening out into a grey velvet-lined writing slope and a gabled cover revealing various lidded compartments and documents storage space, sinuous brass handles on each short side, the surface inlaid with ivory plaques inset with intricate sadeli micro-mosaic roundels and triangles bordered by geometric bands, the Victorian lock stamped VR PATENT, 18.5cm x 38.5cm x 29.4cm.

The art of sadeli (micro-mosaic marquetry work) has a long history in India, the Middle East and Iran, where it's often called khatamkari. The technique consists in preparing thin rods by scraping lengths of ivory, bone or wood into the desired shape. The rods are then sliced up with a fine saw and the resulting geometrically-cut pieces arranged and fitted onto the desired surface. Two analogous sadeli portable writing desks have been offered at Sotheby's London, 30 June 2004, lot 33; and 9 April 2008, lot 239.