Teak Merchants Box From Rajasthan - 19th Century Wardrobes This excellent antique Chinese pith

This excellent antique Chinese pith painting is painted on pith paper and dates from the 19th century

Bikaner in Rajasthan is famous for its fine painting of both buildings and boxes

These were all items known broadly as 'scholarly objects' which denoted the scholarly status of the owner

Material: Carved wood with painted finish

Teak Merchants Box From Rajasthan - 19th Century Wardrobes This excellent antique Chinese pithThese old Indian boxes were used in the old days by merchants and traders in the bazaars for storing their cash and ledgers. They were also used by Indian families for the dowry of their daughters, as a trousseau (bridal clothes & jewellery). Locally, these boxes were called peti (casket). The body of the box is constructed from roheda wood which is bound with brass. The lid of this box is beautifully chip carved and delicately hand beaten brass work.