Spice Box thumbnail 1
Not currently on display at the V&A

Spice Box

1st half 19th century (made)
Artist/Maker
Unknown
Place of origin
Malwa (made)

This silver and partly silver gilt container consists of six compartments, each with a hinged lid surmounted by a peacock, surrounding a central core topped by a cupola-like knob. The heart-shaped lids resemble the leaves of the Piper betel (pan), which, combined with areca nut, lime (chunam) and spices, has long been chewed as a mild stimulant throughout India and South-East Asia.


Object details

Categories
Metalwork
Containers
Silver
SCRAN
Animals and Wildlife
India Museum
Object type
Spice box
Materials and techniques
Silver and silver gilt
Silver
Gilt
Brief description
Spice box, silver, Malwa, 1800-1850
Physical description
Spice Box with peacocks adorning the lid. The heart-shaped sections recall the form of leaves used in paan, suggesting that the box was part of a set of utensils used for the preparation and presentation of these tobacco quids.
Dimensions
  • Height: 10.8cm
  • Width: 12cm
  • Depth: 12cm
Subject depicted
Peacock
Summary
This silver and partly silver gilt container consists of six compartments, each with a hinged lid surmounted by a peacock, surrounding a central core topped by a cupola-like knob. The heart-shaped lids resemble the leaves of the Piper betel (pan), which, combined with areca nut, lime (chunam) and spices, has long been chewed as a mild stimulant throughout India and South-East Asia.
Bibliographic references
  • Jackson, Anna and Ji Wei (eds.) with Rosemary Crill, Ainsley M. Cameron and Nicholas Barnard, compiled by the Palace Museum, translated by Yuan Hong, Qi Yue and Liu Ran. The Splendour of India' Royal Courts : Collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum. Beijing: the Forbidden City Publishing House, 2013. Text in English and Chinese. ISBN 9787513403917. pps. 62 and 63
  • Swallow, D., Stronge, S., Crill, R., Koezuka, T., editor and translator, "The Art of the Indian Courts. Miniature Painting and Decorative Arts", Victoria & Albert Museum and NHK Kinki Media Plan, 1993. p. 141, cat. no. 124
Collection
South & South East Asia Collection
Accession number
02672(IS)

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Record createdDecember 15, 1999
Record URL
https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O16739/spice-box-unknown/
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