Furniture
  • Green painted military chest with reclaimed Rajasthani & Gujarati antique furniture

    Shop Our Recent Shipment Of Antique Indian Furniture

  • Home Decor
  • About Us
  • Carved Teak Triple Arch From Maharashtra - Late 19thC | Indigo Antiques
  • Shop By Origin
  • Antique Indian Dungapur Seapoy Window Shutters with a Rajasthani 18th century casket | Indigo Antiques

    Indian Antiques & Art

  • Antique Red Lacquer Wedding Cabinet With Gilt Birds

    Chinese Antiques & Art

  • Antique Painted Tibetan Dragon Storage Chest - 18thC | Indigo Antiques

    Tibetan Antique Furniture

  • Japanese Tansu

  • Brass Studded Zanzibar Chest From Surat - Early 19th Century

    Brass Studded Zanzibar Chest From Surat  - Early 19th Century

    Roll over image to zoom in

    Roll over image to zoom in

    Trade & Wholesale

    Our origins are in wholesale, so from movies to restaurants, retailers to architects, we have a long history of supplying our trade clients with unusual and unique oriental furniture & decorative art. 

    Whether purchasing for resale or buying on behalf of a client, we offer trade discount pricing to:


  • Retail Stores
  • Interior Designers
  • Film & Photo Studios
  • Architects
  • Event Producers

  • For all trade and wholesale enquiries please email us with your contact and business name, company registration number & VAT number (if applicable) to enquiries@indigo-uk.com or call 01672 564722


    For full details, visit our Trade & Wholesale Page

    Prop Hire

    Looking for that one off iconic piece for an event or requiring props for a filming or a photography shoot? You will have seen our oriental antique furniture & decorative art in the James Bond films, The Golden Compass and many others.


    For all prop hire enquiries please send emails to enquiries@indigo-uk.com or call 01672 564722


    For full details, visit our Trade & Wholesale Page

    Brass Studded Zanzibar Chest From Surat - Early 19th Century

    SKU:M908

    £2,650

    This beautiful Indian 'Zanzibar' chest dates to the 19th century and is an excellent example of a Surat style 'Zanzibar chest'. Made from solid teak wood and clad in brass. These chests were made in Surat in Gujarat by Parsees and used as dhow trade chests on ships for transporting spices like pepper and cloves, Indian cottons, gemstones. The main trade hubs were Diu, Surat, Basra, Zanzibar & Bombay hence these chests being found across much of the Arab Gulf.


    There's plenty of misinformation surrounding Zanzibar chests and many mistakenly believe their origins to be in Zanzibar & the Arab Gulf. The thorough work in 'The Arab Chest' by Sheila Unwin suggests this chest to be a Category 1, Surat Type 1 which would date this chest between the early & mid 19th century - earlier than most of the Zanzibar chests on the market. It bears many similarities to the chest depicted on the front cover. 

    This particular chest is unusual in style as it features early Shiraz style rhomboid mounts. Unwin notes on page 75 this style of plaque is found only on Shiraz chests making this unique. 


    The chest is decorated with brass studs and corners with brass lifting handles on the sides. As a trading chest, this piece has a large storage area complete with a candle box. Three additional drawers run along the bottom adding more storage.

     

    References:
    For further reading see 'The Arab Chest' by Sheila Unwin. Note the similarities with the article pictured on the front cover. 
    Similar chests have come up for auction at Christie's auctions. 


    From India

    UK Delivery Charge - except Highlands & Islands £40
    More delivery options available at checkout

    Dimensions: W126 x D61 x H63 cm


    []
    £2,650
    1
    1

    Free UK Delivery on orders over £100 

    Use code 'Delivery' at checkout

    In Stock - In Our Wiltshire Showroom

    Dimensions: W126 x D61 x H63 cm


    Free UK Delivery on orders over £250 

    Use code 'Delivery' at checkout

    In Stock - In Our Wiltshire Showroom

    Shipping & Warranty

    • Guaranteed authenticity on all antique pieces (where dated)

    • Every item is in stock in the UK

    • We'll contact you to arrange a suitable delivery date

    • Hassle free returns

    • Free Click & Collect available on all pieces


    This beautiful Indian 'Zanzibar' chest dates to the 19th century and is an excellent example of a Surat style 'Zanzibar chest'. Made from solid teak wood and clad in brass. These chests were made in Surat in Gujarat by Parsees and used as dhow trade chests on ships for transporting spices like pepper and cloves, Indian cottons, gemstones. The main trade hubs were Diu, Surat, Basra, Zanzibar & Bombay hence these chests being found across much of the Arab Gulf.


    There's plenty of misinformation surrounding Zanzibar chests and many mistakenly believe their origins to be in Zanzibar & the Arab Gulf. The thorough work in 'The Arab Chest' by Sheila Unwin suggests this chest to be a Category 1, Surat Type 1 which would date this chest between the early & mid 19th century - earlier than most of the Zanzibar chests on the market. It bears many similarities to the chest depicted on the front cover. 

    This particular chest is unusual in style as it features early Shiraz style rhomboid mounts. Unwin notes on page 75 this style of plaque is found only on Shiraz chests making this unique. 


    The chest is decorated with brass studs and corners with brass lifting handles on the sides. As a trading chest, this piece has a large storage area complete with a candle box. Three additional drawers run along the bottom adding more storage.

     

    References:
    For further reading see 'The Arab Chest' by Sheila Unwin. Note the similarities with the article pictured on the front cover. 
    Similar chests have come up for auction at Christie's auctions. 


    From India

    UK Delivery Charge - except Highlands & Islands £40
    More delivery options available at checkout


    Shipping & Warranty

    • Guaranteed authenticity on all antique pieces (where dated)

    • Every item is in stock in the UK

    • We'll contact you to arrange a suitable delivery date

    • Hassle free returns

    • Free Click & Collect available on all pieces


    Trade & Wholesale

    Our origins are in wholesale, so from movies to restaurants, retailers to architects, we have a long history of supplying our trade clients with unusual and unique oriental furniture & decorative art. 

    Whether purchasing for resale or buying on behalf of a client, we offer trade discount pricing to:


  • Retail Stores
  • Interior Designers
  • Film & Photo Studios
  • Architects
  • Event Producers

  • For all trade and wholesale enquiries please email us with your contact and business name, company registration number & VAT number (if applicable) to enquiries@indigo-uk.com or call 01672 564722


    For full details, visit our Trade & Wholesale Page

    Prop Hire

    Looking for that one off iconic piece for an event or requiring props for a filming or a photography shoot? You will have seen our oriental antique furniture & decorative art in the James Bond films, The Golden Compass and many others.


    For all prop hire enquiries please send emails to enquiries@indigo-uk.com or call 01672 564722


    For full details, visit our Trade & Wholesale Page

    People Also Viewed

    DISPATCH

    • - Non-furniture Delivery: 2-5 working days

    • - Furniture Delivery: Within 1 - 2 weeks

      (We'll call you to arrange a specific delivery date)

    • Free UK mainland delivery on orders over £250 | Use code "DELIVERY" at checkout

    RETURNS

    • - Hassle Free Returns

    • - Return your order within 28 days for a full refund (excluding delivery charges)

    • - Items must be returned in a resalable condition

    • - Collections can be arranged on request

    • Product Specific delivery charges visible above "Add to Basket" button and in Checkout (scroll up)

    • Additional charges may apply for deliveries to highlands, islands, out of area deliveries and collections. 

    • International Delivery: Please contact us for quotes on individual pieces

    Shipping & Warranty


    • Guaranteed authenticity on all antique pieces (where dated)

    • Every item is in stock in the UK

    • We'll contact you to arrange a suitable delivery date

    • Hassle free returns

    • Free Click & Collect available on all pieces


    DISPATCH

    • - Non-furniture Delivery: 2-5 working days

    • - Furniture Delivery: Within 1 - 2 weeks

      (We'll call you to arrange a specific delivery date)

    DELIVERY

    • - Small items: £7.50

    • - Medium Sized items: £15

    • - Fragile Medium items: £20

    • - Small Furniture items: £40

    • - Furniture & Large Items: £80

    RETURNS

    • - Hassle Free Returns within 28 days for a full refund (excluding delivery charges)

    • - If you are not happy with your order, send it back with our delivery drivers. 

    • - Items must be returned in a resalable condition

    • - Collections can be arranged on request

    • Product Specific delivery charges visible above "Add to Basket" button and in Checkout (scroll up)

    • Additional charges may apply for deliveries to highlands, islands, out of area deliveries and collections. 

    • International Delivery: Please contact us for quotes on individual pieces at enquiries@indigo-uk.com, Livechat or calling +44 1672 564722

    Free UK mainland delivery on orders over £250 | Use code "DELIVERY" at checkout

    • GUARANTEED AUTHENTICITY ON ALL ANTIQUE PIECES

    • 100% SAFE AND SECURE CHECKOUT WITH SHOPIFY

    • FREE NO QUIBBLE RETURNS

    Notify me when this or a similar product is available.