Beautifully veneered in ebony and mounted with delicately carved ivory panels, this davenport is one of the finest examples known and belongs to a small and unique group of signed Indian cabinetmaking from the great centre of furniture production Vizagapatam.

The city, on India's east coast, was known as an artisanal centre and the Journal of Indian Art, II, 1887 commented that 'Hardly any lover of Indian art is unfamiliar with Vizagapatam [...] and it really carries the palm in ivory fretwork'. Though no record of Ponnada Audiah's workshop has been found, there exist a few other signed pieces by Vizagapatam craftsmen, often working under the auspices of the Maharajah's court. The inkwells retailed by Asprey with London hallmark of 1865 indicate that the davenport was likely exported to London soon after its conception, most likely for an official whose monogram 'DCL' is probably that on the inkwell covers.

Designed in the early 19th century British antique/Grecian fashion, this davenport relates to one by the Vizagapatam workshop of Yendapilly Versalingum sold Christie's London, 23 January 2007, lot 251. It also relates to the Davenport bureau-chest illustrated in Queen Charlotte's drawing-room at Frogmore, Windsor; and a form of furniture described as being 'a very useful article for industrious young ladies' (W.H. Pyne, Royal Residences, 3 vols, 1817-1820; and J. C. Loudon, Encyclopaedia of Cottage, Farm and Villa Architecture, 1839). A related lac-decorated Davenport, executed by Royal [ivory] workmen in the palace of the Maharaja of Vizianagram was shown by Rajah G.N. Gajapati, Rao Vizagapatam at the Exhibition of Native Fine and Industrial Art, held at Simla in 1881 (A. Jaffer, Furniture from British India and Ceylon, London, 2001, fig. 98, p.216). This latter 'Exhibition' piece was sold by the R.E. Summerfeld Charitable Trust, Christie's, London, 19 April 1990, lot 74. The Summerfeld desk retained a card inscribed ....executed by Royal workmen in the Rajah's palace, Name of Chief Artesan L. Venkatadas; Exhibitor the Rajah G. N. Gajapati Ras (?) Vizagapatam.