Indian Spice Box
Hand-carved box in the form of a sylized waterbird, Kerala, India, late 19th to early 20th-century. Bird-shaped boxes for holding salt, spices, or cosmetics date back to the New Kingdom period in Egypt, and persisted in India until recently. This large, single-compartment box likely held salt (or some other often-used ingredient) in the kitchen, and shows wear from generations of use. Similarly-shaped boxes include smaller tikka boxes for holding cosmetics, and muliti-compartment boxes (masaladabbi) made for holding several different spices. Crafted in three parts, with the lid held in place loosely by a wooden pin. 12.5" long by 8.5" tall.
Hand-carved box in the form of a sylized waterbird, Kerala, India, late 19th to early 20th-century. Bird-shaped boxes for holding salt, spices, or cosmetics date back to the New Kingdom period in Egypt, and persisted in India until recently. This large, single-compartment box likely held salt (or some other often-used ingredient) in the kitchen, and shows wear from generations of use. Similarly-shaped boxes include smaller tikka boxes for holding cosmetics, and muliti-compartment boxes (masaladabbi) made for holding several different spices. Crafted in three parts, with the lid held in place loosely by a wooden pin. 12.5" long by 8.5" tall.
Hand-carved box in the form of a sylized waterbird, Kerala, India, late 19th to early 20th-century. Bird-shaped boxes for holding salt, spices, or cosmetics date back to the New Kingdom period in Egypt, and persisted in India until recently. This large, single-compartment box likely held salt (or some other often-used ingredient) in the kitchen, and shows wear from generations of use. Similarly-shaped boxes include smaller tikka boxes for holding cosmetics, and muliti-compartment boxes (masaladabbi) made for holding several different spices. Crafted in three parts, with the lid held in place loosely by a wooden pin. 12.5" long by 8.5" tall.