A rare and important antique Anglo Indian pierced brass bound and studded 'Zanzibar' chest circa 1875, but possibly earlier.  It has all the bells and whistles including 4 secret drawers, and a hinged interior box.  The pierced brass overlay is of the highest quality and the chest is in great original condition.  It measures 48" inches wide, 23" inches deep, and 23" high.

Very few of this impressive quality survive today.

Zanzibar chests were highly prized by those who could afford them and every chest was hand decorated to individual taste.  They were used to transport valuable silks, dresses, spices, gems, and other precious cargo via the Anglo Indian trade routes and throughout northern African and Persian ports.  It is also logical that they served as dowry chests for wealthier brides and held fine garments and linens.

The best chests; as in this one; contained secret compartments which were designed to hide jewelry, gemstones, coins, currency, important documents, etc.  It is believed the pierced brass was kept highly polished which allowed owners to easily keep an eye on them from a distance when necessary and also made them instantly identifiable if they were transported along with any others.

Free pick-up; or I will ship this via Greyhound Bus at the buyers expense to their nearest depot. 

If you have any questions email hobbit7atearthlinkdotnet or dial eight one eight six three two zero zero six two.

I ship worldwide. Do not rely on the eBay shipping calculator! All items are custom packaged after the sale when I have a destination address.  In most cases your shipping cost will be much less depending on the carrier used. If you would like an approximate shipping quote before you bid, just send me an email. I use many different shippers to save you money and can usually accommodate special requests.