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 the storage of writing tools, the sloping front lid opening out into a worn purple velvet-lined writing slope and a gabled cover revealing various narrow rectangular drawers and document storage space, curved brass handles on each short side, the full surface of the writing desk inlaid with ivory plaques inset with intricate sadeli micro-mosaic roundels and triangles bordered by geometric bands with typical Islamic stellar designs in hexagonal medallions, 16.5cm x 38.5cm x 30cm.

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 of preparing thin rods of ivory, bone or wood by scraping lengths of each into the desired shape. The rods are sliced with a fine saw into geometric-pieces which are then arranged and fitted onto the main 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, and another, very similar to our, sold successfully in these Rooms, 22 July 2020, lot 230.