Interesting belt

fernando · 11th September 2015, 07:07 PM

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 · 11th September 2015, 07:35 PM

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.

11th September 2015, 07:07 PM	#1
fernando (deceased) Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Portugal Posts: 9,694	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.

11th September 2015, 07:35 PM	#2
Ibrahiim al Balooshi Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Buraimi Oman, on the border with the UAE Posts: 4,408	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.