Antique 19th Century Ceylonese Porcupine Quill Box Sri Lanka Hexagonal Bone Inlay Casket

Yes — that changes the listing significantly. I would identify it as a 19th-century Ceylonese porcupine quill box, rather than a generic vintage Indian box.

Title

Antique 19th Century Ceylonese Porcupine Quill Box Sri Lanka Hexagonal Bone Inlay Casket

Description

Origin: Ceylon (present-day Sri Lanka)

Period: 19th century

Materials: Porcupine quill, wood, bone inlay, brass, textile

Dimensions: 8 × 8 × 3 in (20.3 × 20.3 × 7.6 cm)

Weight: 700 g (1.54 lb)

Condition: Antique condition with age-related wear, losses and irregularities to the quill and inlay work. Patination and tarnishing to the metal fittings are present. Please examine photographs carefully as they form part of the condition description.

A striking 19th-century Ceylonese casket crafted from richly contrasting porcupine quills, dark timber and delicate bone inlay. These distinctive boxes were produced in Ceylon during the colonial period, combining local craftsmanship and natural materials with decorative forms made for affluent households and the export market.

The hexagonal body is arranged with tightly placed quills in naturally variegated shades of ivory, amber, chestnut and near-black. Small circular bone details punctuate the dark framework, creating an intricate geometric composition across the lid and sides.

Inside, the decoration becomes particularly charming. A central elephant motif is surrounded by radiating rows of dotted inlay, while the remaining sections of the lid are covered in dark textile. Brass hinges, a carrying handle and a front lock plate complete the construction.

More than simply a storage piece, this is an evocative example of Ceylonese decorative craftsmanship with the wonderfully tactile surface, aged patina and individuality expected from an object approaching two centuries in age.

Beautiful displayed as a historical decorative object, collector's casket or jewelry and keepsake box within an eclectic, colonial-era, maximalist or globally collected interior.The first photo uses AI to enhance the lighting and setting. The vintage item itself is unchanged. Please see the remaining photos for its original appearance and condition.