{"product_id":"antique-late-19th-century-indian-parcel-gilt-solid-silver-spice-box-pandan","title":"Antique late 19th Century Indian parcel gilt Solid Silver spice box (pandan).","description":"\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003eAntique late 19th Century Indian parcel gilt Solid Silver spice box (pandan), star-shaped on six feet, with six hinged lids, \u003cb\u003e \u003c\/b\u003emodelled in the form of a stylised flower with six lobed divisions with hinged covers, secured by a central screw threaded rod with baluster finial, upon six legs with flower pad feet motifs and birds, each lid set with a large bird, centred by an unscrewable knop. The box would have contained spices or various ingredients to combine and fold into the betel leaf. Spices boxes of various forms appear in Mughal miniatures from the late 16th Century onwards. In courtly settings, the offering of pan marked the end of a visit. \u003ca href=\"http:\/\/collections.vam.ac.uk\/item\/O68503\/spice-box-unknown\/\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eA similar example is found in the Victorian \u0026amp; Albert Museum.\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003eSpices that lured travellers to India for trade over centuries which resulted in the plantation industry being established in the nineteenth century, have such a rich cultural history.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003eSpices were considered precious by the Matriarchs of yore and given great prominence in the cooking as well as in the storage.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003eCertain main core spices she would have access to and given individually\u003cspan style=\"mso-spacerun: yes;\"\u003e \u003c\/span\u003eto the kitchen for cooking the main dish of the day.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003eA spice box would be given by a bride's mother as a wedding gift so that she could learn to cook amazing meals for her new family.\u003cspan style=\"mso-spacerun: yes;\"\u003e  \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003eThe featured item is a \"A parcel gilt SILVER SPICE BOX, INDIA, late 19\u003csup\u003eth\u003c\/sup\u003e century\".\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003eOf flower-shaped form divided into heart-shaped compartments, each with a hinged opening and a floral finial, the central screw in the form of a flower bud, the base engraved with Indian script and with an old label.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003eThere are six compartments for the main spices like Pepper, Cloves, Cinnamon, Cardamom, Nutmeg , Turmeric etc.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003eIn the present days, the spice box like the one featured is now become an decor accent to transform your space.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003eMeasurements:\u003cbr\u003eLength: 165 mm\u003cbr\u003eHeight: 80 mm\u003cbr\u003eTotal Weight: 506 grams\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Joseph Cohen Antiques","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":46372031660182,"sku":"JC-07226","price":1450.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0124\/1507\/4394\/files\/P1_c8441051-bff1-4179-8fbb-33a6954f8561.jpg?v=1777999077","url":"https:\/\/www.josephcohenantiques.com\/products\/antique-late-19th-century-indian-parcel-gilt-solid-silver-spice-box-pandan","provider":"Joseph Cohen Antiques","version":"1.0","type":"link"}