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Pill Box, Silver, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, Southern India, ca. 1870-1890.

REGISTERED ANTIQUITY – NON-EXPORTABLE ITEM.

 

Object Detail

 

In British India, the lifestyle of the colonial elite uniquely influenced the types of silver objects they commissioned, often leading to designs that harmoniously blended European forms with rich local traditions. A quintessential example of this synthesis is the oval silver pill box, a standout piece of Madras Swami style silverwork. This object reveals traditional Hindu iconography with a distinctly European-inspired shape, reflecting the cultural intermingling of the era.

 

The box is elegantly oval, featuring a smooth, uncomplicated rim that serves to enhance the intricate embellishments adorning the piece. The lid is brimming with high-relief figures that are artistically framed within a scrolling floral arch. At the centre, the prominent divine figure of Lord Rāmaḥ stands out, recognisable by his iconic bow, arrow, and quiver, which he cradles in both hands and across his shoulder. Flanking him are the figures of Sitā and Lakṣmaṇa, contributing to a composition that is strikingly frontal, reminiscent of a miniature temple frieze. This framing evokes the architectural motifs of South Indian shrines, with pillars and arches that echo the region’s religious structures.

 

 

 

Provenance

 

From a Private Collection in Mumbai, India.

 

Condition

 

Good Condition with minor wear.

 

Dimension

 

 

Literature Comparison

 

1.Shax Riegler, “Indian Silver for the Raj,” The Magazine ANTIQUES, February 1, 2009, accessed September 16, 2025, https://www.themagazineantiques.com/article/indian-silver-for-the-raj/?.

 

2.Vidya Dehejia, Delight in Design: Indian Silver for the Raj (Ahmedabad: Mapin Publishing, 2008).

 

3.Neil Shapiro, Match Safes from India, Match Safe Scholar, accessed September 16, 2025, https://matchsafescholar.com/assets/pdfs/articles/Match_Safes_from_India.pdf.

 

 

 

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