Enamelled Gold Octagonal Lidded Box with Bird and Floral Motifs on Exterior and Bottom
Date19th - 20th century
PeriodBritish India/Princely States
MediumEnameled gold
DimensionsOverall: 1 7/8 x 4 3/4 x 3 3/4 in. (4.8 x 12.1 x 9.5cm)
ClassificationsMetalwork
Credit LineCourtesy of the Doris Duke Foundation for Islamic Art
Object number44.16a-b
DescriptionThis octagonal box is likely a pandan, a container used to store betel nut. Thin slices of betel nut were mixed with lime paste and spices to create pan, a mild intoxicant enjoyed at the Mughal court. The box is enveloped with elegantly intertwining floral motifs in white, red, and gold set against a ground of translucent green enamel. Tiny red and white birds rest upon the flowering stems. Flowering plants seem to be a favorite motif of Doris Duke, found throughout her collection, in jewelry, textiles, paintings, and even the architecture of the walls of Shangri La — from the dado panels and jali screens of the Mughal Gallery to the intricate ‘ajami paintings adorning the walls of the Ottoman and Qajar Galleries.
On View
On viewCollections
19th - 20th century
18th - 19th century
18th - 19th century
