Painted Pithara Console Chest - 19th Century

This vintage pithara dowry chest—known locally in Saurashtra as a pataro—comes from Gujarat, India. Crafted in dense teak and clad with decorative brass and iron, it was traditionally used to hold a family’s wedding dowry and now makes a striking console or storage chest for larger interiors.

The front and lid are arranged in a metal-panel grid, each small square embossed with Indian animal motifs. Successive later layers of polychrome paint—pink, yellow, blue and green—softly tint the aged timber and metalwork, creating a lively patina that celebrates decades of continued use.

Generous inside and structurally robust, it is ideal for storing bedding and throws for occasional guests while adding colour, texture and cultural character to a hallway, bedroom or living space.

• Origin: Saurashtra, Gujarat, India
• Date: 19th Century (later painting)
• Materials: Teak wood, brass and iron fittings
• Features: Panelled metal grid with animal motifs; traces of bright later paint; substantial console proportions; ample interior storage
• Condition: Good vintage condition with wear, patina and minor surface losses consistent with age and use
• Dimensions: W137 x D49 x H88 cm