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Surya Rutten

Large Punjabi Lacquerware Storage Box – Hand-Painted – 19th Century (c. 1800–1900)

This impressive large lacquerware box from Punjab represents the finest tradition of 19th-century North Indian decorative arts. Crafted with the characteristic lightweight wooden core and built up with multiple layers of rich lacquer, the surface is meticulously hand-painted in deep black and warm cinnabar-red tones—an iconic colour harmony widely associated with high-quality Kashmiri lacquerwork.

The box features elegant feather-like and floral stylised motifs arranged in rhythmic, repeating patterns that create a striking visual symmetry across the entire body. The painterly technique and the warmth of the colours give the piece a distinctive presence, transforming it from a utilitarian container into a refined artistic object.

The domed lid with its gently rising finial adds to the sculptural quality of the piece, while the unusually large size sets it apart from the smaller, more common Kashmiri boxes of the same period. This generous scale indicates that it was likely intended for storing textiles, fine garments, or valuable personal items—suggesting it once belonged to a household of status.

Despite its age of around 150 years, the box retains much of its original lacquer sheen. Minor surface wear is present, consistent with age and manual craftsmanship, but these subtle traces only enhance its authenticity and historical character.

A beautiful example of traditional Punjabi lacquer artistry, combining elegance, practicality, and strong decorative appeal—highly desirable for collectors of South Asian art and 19th-century lacquerwork.

Period: 19th Century (c. 1800–1900)
Material: Lacquer on wood
Origin: Punjab, India
Condition: Very good antique condition. Light wear and small age-related marks, no structural damage.

24 cm

Wood - India - unknow

Indian & Islamic Art

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Period

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Qajar dynasty (1796–1925)

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Paleogene (66 - 23.03 million years)

Stone

Turquoise

Blood Coral

Lapis lazuli

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Asian art

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Oil painting

Gouache

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English

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Indian & Islamic Art

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Wood - India - unknow

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