Image of Gallery in South Kensington
On display at V&A South Kensington
South Asia Gallery, Room 41

Box and Lid

ca. 1700 (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

This box of pale green nephrite jade and set with diamonds, rubies and emeralds in gold, was made within the Mughal empire in about 1700. It would have been used to contain pan, the small quids made of betel leaves containing chopped nuts, lime and aromatic spices that are chewed throughout South Asia after meals. In courtly or aristocratic circles, guests were presented with pan to mark the end of a visit. The box was part of the important collection formed by Colonel Charles Seton Guthrie and sold to the Indian Museum in 1868. It was transferred to the South Kensington Museum in 1879.


Object details

Categories
Object type
Parts
This object consists of 2 parts.

  • Lid
  • Box
Materials and techniques
Nephrite jade set with diamonds, rubies and emeralds in gold.
Brief description
OCTAGONAL BOX & COVER: nephrite jade set with diamonds, rubies and emeralds in gold. Mughal, ca. 1700.
Physical description
OCTAGONAL BOX & COVER, pale green nephrite jade set with diamonds, rubies and emeralds in gold.
Dimensions
  • Approx. width: 16cm
Style
Gallery label
OCTAGONAL BOX & COVER: White nephrite jade set with diamonds, rubies and emeralds in gold. Mughal, 18th century.(Nehru Gallery, 2003)
Object history
From the collection of Colonel Charles Seton Guthrie
Summary
This box of pale green nephrite jade and set with diamonds, rubies and emeralds in gold, was made within the Mughal empire in about 1700. It would have been used to contain pan, the small quids made of betel leaves containing chopped nuts, lime and aromatic spices that are chewed throughout South Asia after meals. In courtly or aristocratic circles, guests were presented with pan to mark the end of a visit. The box was part of the important collection formed by Colonel Charles Seton Guthrie and sold to the Indian Museum in 1868. It was transferred to the South Kensington Museum in 1879.
Collection
Accession number
02601&A /(IS)

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Record createdJune 19, 2008
Record URL
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