Box with Lid (Primary Title)

Unknown (Artist)

early 19th century
Indian
Containers-Boxes
serpentine, blue sapphires, rubies, glass, gold
India,North India
Overall: 1 3/8 × 5 3/4 × 3 in. (3.49 × 14.61 × 7.62 cm)
68.8.127a-b
The four compartments inside this leaf-shaped box were likely used to store several related substance. These might have been a range of cosmetics or perhaps spiced for making pan, a digestive and mild stimulant prepared from betel leaf, areca nut, lime paste, and other aromatics. Gold-wire and gemstone inlays—in highly abstracted floral motifs on the lid—decorate its exterior.
Nasli and Alice Heeramaneck Collection, Gift of Paul Mellon
Image released via Creative Commons CC-BY-NC

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