A carved ivory model of a palanquin with sliding doors being carried by four bearers, with five other attendants. One attendant holds a parasol over the palanquin indicating that the figure sitting inside is of royal status.

From the late eighteenth and early nineteenth century, the region of Brahmapur or 'Berhampore' in Bengal was renowned for its ivory carving workshops. With the growing presence of the East India Company in India, models such as this example were produced for European officials working in India and for the tourist market.