Resplendent in splendour and refined elegance, this rare rectangular betel nut box dazzles with its intricate detailing and radiant gilding. Crafted from silver and richly gilded, its surface is decorated with a mesmerizing pattern of elongated almond or teardrop-shaped forms, evoking the brilliance of embedded gemstones shimmering in light. The delicate low-relief chasing reveals a masterful hand at work. The hinged lid, shaped like a ceremonial offering dish draws the eye with a radiating composition of eight stylized floral motifs, each inset with polished turquoise cabochons. A circular silver ring at the core serves as a holder for a betel nut fruit. The base, too, is finely engraved, underscoring the level of craftsmanship invested in every inch of the object. A related Hyderabadi parcel-gilt bedroom set featuring similarly lidded boxes, trays, rosewater sprinklers, incense burners, and flasks is illustrated and discussed in Christiane Terlinden, Mughal Silver Magnificence, p. 55.
- Weight: 0.996 kg
- Subject Matter: Silver
- Collections: Silver