~ TRAVEL ORATORY Mother-of-pearl veneered on all sides with a wooden core. It is covered with mother-of-pearl each fixed by a brass nail. brass nail. Quadrilobes on the spandrels. The front opens to two leaves revealing a space for a holy image (no longer extant). Portuguese India, Gujarat, 17th century. Height: 32.5 cm - Width: 28 cm (closed) Height: 32.5 cm - Width: 40.5 cm (open) In the 16th and 17th centuries, Gujarat was the centre the centre of production for a range of items decorated or fashioned from mother-of-pearl. mother-of-pearl. These luxury products such as coffins, ceremonial maces, basins and ewers were and ewers were made for consumption consumed in India and exported to markets in the Middle East and Europe.