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Pan dan (casket for betel)
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Pan dan (casket for betel)
- Object:
Pan dan (casket for pan)
- Place of origin:
Lucknow, India (made)
- Date:
late 18th century (made)
- Artist/Maker:
Unknown (production)
- Materials and Techniques:
Silver, partly gilt and enamelled
- Credit Line:
Given by Her Majesty Queen Mary
- Museum number:
IM.30-1912
- Gallery location:
In Storage
This casket was made in the Indian court at Lucknow, probably in the early 19th century, and would have contained pan (pronounced paan). These small pouches are made of edible leaves wrapped round chopped nuts from the piper betel tree, lime and spices and were offered to mark the end of ceremonial audiences.
The casket was reputed to have belonged to Wajid 'Ali Shah, the last ruler of the kingdom of Oudh who was deposed by the British in 1856 and exiled to Calcutta when his territories were annexed. It was given to Queen Mary during the Delhi Coronation Durbar and Indian tour of 1911-1912, and presented to the Museum in 1912.
