AN INDIAN SILVER FILIGREE CASKET

 

Goa or Karimnagar, 18th century

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The rectangular box without feet, sarcophagus lid and two handles.

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H. 8 x W. 15.9 x D. 9.4 cm

 

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Note:

Silver filigree from the East became very popular in Europe in the early 17th century. Initially, most of it was imported into Europe through Lisbon coming from Goa but not necessarily made there. Later in the 17th and 18th century, most silver filigree
from the East arrived in Amsterdam or London coming from the Dutch East Indies/ Kota Gadang, India/Karimnagar and China/Canton and less so from Goa. Particularly the VOC, Dutch East India Company brought back many artefacts made of silver filigree in the East for the royal collectors in the West. Louis XIV of France, Elector Frederick William of Brandenburg, Amalia van Solms in the Netherlands, Christian V of Denmark and the Russian Tsars, Peter and Catherine the Great all started their own collection of silver filigree by buying in Amsterdam. Since the VOC could not and did not obtain these objects in Goa, they had to find them elsewhere. However, since silver filigree usually does not have any maker’s marks it is difficult to tell where it was actually made.

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