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Lidded box
Lalji - Enlarge image
Lidded box
- Place of origin:
Alwar, India (possibly, made)
- Date:
ca. 1850 (made)
- Artist/Maker:
Lalji (made)
- Materials and Techniques:
Silver, gilt
- Museum number:
132-1852
- Gallery location:
British Galleries, room 122f, case 5
Object Type
Boxes of various forms were traditionally used in the Indian subcontinent to store the leaves and nuts used in the preparation of pan (pronounced paan) and are conventionally called 'pandans', the Farsi (Persian) ending denoting something used as a container. Pan consists of chopped areca nuts mixed with spices and wrapped in a leaf from the Piper betel tree. The small pouch would be offered after meals as a digestif, or as part of the leaving ceremonies at formal gatherings, particularly at court. The shape of this silver gilt box is inspired by the shape of the leaves it held, and is extremely unusual.
Places
The box was made at Alwar ('Ulwar' according to Victorian spelling) in Rajasthan and bears the maker's name, Lalji, about whom nothing is otherwise known.
Historical Associations
This box was exhibited at the 1851 Exhibition and was bought by the Museum of Ornamental Art for £6.10s. Its relatively high price reflects the quality of the workmanship.
