This volume investigates the historical origins, production methods, and global trade networks of sixteenth- and seventeenth-century mother-of-pearl overlay furniture from Gujarat. Author Simon Digby utilizes a multidisciplinary approach, synthesizing archival records, historical travelogues, and linguistic evidence to establish a definitive chronology for these artifacts. By mapping the movement of these luxury goods from Indian workshops to aristocratic collections in the Islamic East and Europe, Digby provides a framework for understanding the cross-cultural exchange of material culture during the early modern period.

Scholars and art historians recognize this work as a foundational text for the study of Indian decorative arts and their influence on global trade. Readers frequently note the meticulous archival research and the clarity with which Digby connects specific craft techniques to broader historical trade patterns.