Object Description
A rare Sri-Lankan Portuguese rosewood games box; late 16th-early 17th century; the whole box is profusely carved with various motifs, including two combative lions facing each on the top of the box, and a double headed eagle on the bottom. The inside of the box reveals a backgammon board in ebony, teak and rosewood marquetry. The box measures 13.7cms high, 48.3cms wide and 48.1cms deep. Two similar boxes are illustrated in Pedro Dias, O Contador das Cenas Familiares, Porto, 2002, p 52-53. There is also a box of similar style in the Palace of Sintra, near Lisbon, collection number PNS2963.