A DUTCH-COLONIAL EBONY CHAIR

Coromandel Coast or Jakarta (Batavia), late 17th century

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On four turned legs connected by four turned stretchers, the seat with cane work, the back splat open with turned elements and relief-carved.

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H. 71.5 x W. 52 x  D. 46 cm

Seat height 34.5 cm
 

Note:

These so-called “Kuststoelen” (coast-chairs) with the low relief carving, made on the Coromandel Coast, are the first European style chairs to appear in Batavia in about 1660. The furniture makers on the Coromandel Coast were mainly Tamils but due
to wars and famine in southern India during the first half of the 17th century, many of them ended up as slaves of the VOC in Batavia where they continued their work as furniture makers.

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