Dutch colonial chest

Indispensable in the interior of the East was a storage or ship's chest. Made out of tropical hardwood they could withstand the humid and warm climate in the colonies. Because East India Company officials or colonial habitants traveled a lot between the colonial island in the archipel and ocean, the need of storage space for personal items were high and chests had to be compact and strong. The chests were not only useful in India but also for the long lasting way back to Europe. It is known that these chest were also sold in Holland to people who had noting to do with the colonies. 

This specific chest was probably made in Sri-Lanka, or less likely Batavia (Jakarta). The brass lock plate has beautiful cut motifs, while the  fittings on the sides have a strikingly cut-out heart pattern in them. The sides of the top as well as the edges at the bottom have black paint to imitate ebony wood.

Condition: Good, restored ebonising/surface.