Dutch Colonial Ceylonese Teak & Brass Chest - 18th Century

Produced in 18th century Ceylon during the administration of the Dutch East India Company (VOC), this chest reflects the mature phase of Dutch colonial material culture on the island, where European structural forms were executed by highly skilled Ceylonese craftsmen. The result is the distinctive Indo Dutch synthesis: Dutch rectilinear casework rendered in dense tropical hardwoods and enriched with hand-pierced brass mounts in foliate patterns characteristic of workshops operating in Colombo and Galle.

The chest is constructed in richly grained teak and raised on a turned stand. Its surfaces retain pierced brass corner brackets, escutcheons, and face mounts, each individually cut and filed—an artisanal vocabulary closely associated with Ceylonese-VOC production. The upper section opens to a large single storage cavity fitted with a chain stay and a traditional internal candle box, and the lock is supplied with its working key. Two drawers beneath provide additional storage. The proportions, pierced brass idiom, and internal layout correspond closely to furniture produced on the island before the VOC’s bankruptcy and dissolution in 1799, placing the piece securely within the 18th century.

• Origin: Ceylon (Sri Lanka)
• Date: 18th century, VOC period (before 1799)
• Materials: Teak with pierced brass mounts; turned stand
• Features: Large lift-top storage cavity; internal candle box; pierced brass escutcheons and corner brackets; two lower drawers; working key
• Condition: Wear, patination, and surface marks consistent with age; brass with soft, matured tone
• Provenance: Purchased from the UK Art Market

A refined and architecturally composed example of Dutch colonial Ceylonese furniture, representing the sophisticated hybrid craftsmanship cultivated under VOC rule.