Container Item Number: Ef151 from the MOA: University of British Columbia
Description
Brass casting of small casket mounted on small stand cast as part of main body of object. Lid, with knob, was cast separately. Hinge joints were cast as part of both pieces, 2 loops at each side of base and 1 on each side of lid. Small brass rod is pushed into one of the sides to form simple working hinge, while other side may be secured as a latch. Base is embossed along entire circumference with vertical bands of circles.
History Of Use
Sometimes used by Bengali women to store precious things (coins, chains, jewellery, cosmetics). Red powder on outside seems to indicate that this held red, powered dye. It is the custom of married women to wear this red powder down the parting in their hair. It symbolized their married status. It is called 'sindur'. This object could also have been used to store red powder to make the forehead mark 'bindi'.
Cultural Context
used by women
Item History
- Made in West Bengal, India before 1975
- Collected during 1975
- Owned by Stephen Inglis before December 2, 1977
- Received from Museum of Anthropology Donations Fund (Funding source) and Stephen Inglis (Seller) on December 2, 1977
What
- Name
- Container
- Identification Number
- Ef151
- Type of Item
- container
- Material
- brass metal
- Manufacturing Technique
- cast, chiseled and polished
- Overall
- height 8.0 cm, diameter 4.5 cm
Who
- Culture
- Indian: Northern Indian and Indian: Central Indian
- Previous Owner
- Stephen Inglis
- Received from
- Museum of Anthropology Donations Fund (Funding source) and Stephen Inglis (Seller)
Where
- Holding Institution
- MOA: University of British Columbia
- Made in
- West Bengal, India
When
- Creation Date
- before 1975
- Collection Date
- during 1975
- Ownership Date
- before December 2, 1977
- Acquisition Date
- on December 2, 1977
Other
- Item Classes
- metalwork
- Condition
- fair
- Current Location
- Case 105
- Accession Number
- 0411/0106