Tobacco box - Bone, Wood, Spicy - Colonial Box

Colonial octagonal box with porcupine quills – Ceylon (Sri Lanka) – Late 19th century

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Description

Rare and remarkable colonial octagonal box, made in the late 19th century or early 20th century, originating from Ceylon (now Sri Lanka).

This box is entirely decorated with natural porcupine quills, carefully assembled into vertical strips, offering a natural palette of cream, brown, and black tones. This noble and complex material to work with was reserved for high-quality pieces intended for export to Europe during the colonial era.

The structure is made of blackened wood, richly highlighted by a regular pattern of inlaid bone dots, emphasizing the octagonal geometry of the entire piece.
The lid is equipped with a brass handle, matching the hinges and the lock entry.

Inside the lid, a decorative plaque originally depicting an elephant, accompanied by the inscription 'CEYLON,' unambiguously attests to the colonial origin of the piece.

The interior is covered with old black fabric, preserved in its original condition.

This type of box was intended for use as a jewelry, tobacco, or precious objects box, and is now a sought-after collectible piece, appreciated both for its exoticism and for the exceptional quality of its craftsmanship.

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State

Good antique condition with a uniform patina that is consistent with its age.
Signs of wear and traces of time are visible, but there are no structural issues. However, there are some noticeable missing points on the photos, and the lid is cloudy and bulging.
Lock present (key present as a non-functional decorative element)
No modern restoration detected.

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Dimensions

22 × 18.5 × 8 cm

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Materials

Blackened wood, porcupine quills, bone inlays, brass

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Period

Late 19th – early 20th century

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Origin

Ceylan (Sri Lanka)

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We are here on a very beautiful high-level colonial piece, clearly above the late tourist boxes.
The combination of porcupine spines + octagonal shape + 'CEYLON' iconography is particularly attractive.

I insist on the importance of carefully examining the photos, as they serve as a description.