Interesting belt

[Ibrahiim al Balooshi]

Originally Posted by fernando

One thing ought to be relative to the other; if furniture was in reality transformed from sugar boxes, then its origin was the planks ... whether carpenters and joiners worked them up to whatever patterns they wanted. If not, then the name is wrongly attributed.
I guess the idea was to use such exotic woods acquired for low prices.


http://mqc.gov-madeira.pt/pt-PT/Cole...il.aspx?id=155

http://www.madeira-edu.pt/portals/31...ugar-caixa.pdf

Quoting a part of the links above:

Encontram-se igualmente referências ao Mobiliário «caixa-de-açúcar», nos Açores que, de acordo com Francisco Ernesto de Oliveira Martins, se situa no período entre 1642-1700, e também em Lisboa onde em 1686, os marceneiros da Rua das Arcas solicitam autorização para construírem em madeiras de fora, nomeadamente as das caixas em que vem os assucares do Brasil.

Meaning: References to "caixa-de-açucar" furniture are found in the Azores ... 1642-1700 ... and also in Lisbon, where in 1686 local joiners required permission to build with woods from the outside, namely those of the boxes that come with the sugars from Brazil.

Perhaps the sketch of box uploaded in post #10 could be illusory. Some of these boards would have considerable dimensions, specially those of the boxes exported by Brazil, which could carry up to 1000 Kgs. of sugar.

Thank you very much for the excellent references... I have obtained the full reference book on the style of Portuguese furniture from my side which should be here in a few weeks... I will publish the details from that. Meanwhile I will add whatever pictures are available to me here..From Oman and other regions around the Indian Ocean basin the products contained would have been spices, cloth and silver etc. Interesting notes on chests appear at https://books.google.com.om/books?id...Chests&f=false

[fernando]

Ah, the "caixas de liberdade"; a rather distinct typicality in its own right ... and in the due context. Those were acquired for the carrying of goods that crewmen of the India career were allowed to bring back, for their own trade. With its origin in India, where good wood was no problem, of a pattern directed to their accomodation aboard ship, namely within the "agasalhados", a space either allowed or paid, depending on passenger quality or crew rank. I wouldn't know what end these "arcas" had after being cleared in Lisbon, but i would venture they remained with their use as chests, as per their convenient dimensions.
Mind you, a darker angle is connected with chests not only being made of wood as, there are narrations that, when ships reached extreme negative conditions and starvation was at its peak, men would eat the leather of chests, among other diet varieties.

[Ibrahiim al Balooshi]

It was rumoured ..that the wood was some sort of Mahogany from Brasil, however, I believe it is actually Jackaranda from India and in the case of trimmings on some chests, rosewood also from India..The Iron work is interesting not least in that it is a European device; From the Islamic viewpoint they would never have a chest clad in iron since it is seen traditionally as a magnet for evil.
Refocusing upon the project belt it can be seen how similar the iron floral pins are on the belt and chests..and I would say the Indian decorative pin makers would have been making these items more or less in all the metalworking centres in India and of course Tibet.