Sinhalese porcupine quill boxes

Although porcupine quill boxes were originally made for English residents, by the late 19th century there was a thriving commercial export trade.

The finest boxes from Galle may have an ivory disc positioned every 0.5 cm (0.20 in) on all of the ebony borders.

There are two types of quill, the first with distinct dark and white bands and the other with plain blond colouration.

In general, boxes larger than 330 mm (13 in) wide tend to be superior, they were aimed at the more affluent client who could afford the extra time and attention to detail required.

The quality of timber used was not always very good: it was often not treated or dried properly, so the potential for warping is high.