Posted 2 years ago
Malatero2
(60 items)
I picked up this little box thrifting Central Texas today. the seller thought it was bone but I don't know..The joints look machine cut, the fit is pretty tight. Give it a like and any info you can, Thanks
I feel it's a tea caddy? Interesting motif...maybe Persian scene?
Any marking on the bottom?
It has a label taped on the bottom, probably a shop price. I thought, maybe a tobacco or tea box. There are numbers on the bottom of the drawer and lid, 3 and 4. The label says
15154
GR490
Still very interesting..one thing that bothers me...tea was valuable and I would expect to see a lock on the box. I think you should keep pursuing this till you find an answer. Maybe find an expert in tea boxes. Maybe a local museum or historical society..I have found them helpful in the past.
Here's an example of a lock tea box..
https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/203647
A quick search and I found this guy online..maybe send an email and ask for his opinion..
https://markgoodger.co.uk/
Could the front be the Si o Seh Pol bridge in Isfahan, Iran. Also known as Allahverdi Khan Bridge, or 33 arches bridge, it is a symbol of the Persian Safavid Architecture.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Si-o-se-pol
mp.kunst
it could be. An expert thought it to be contemporary, the vendor was a veteran who bought in while deployed
By the way, I think the image on the lid is of a Polo match. Quite a popular sport in that region.
mp.kunst, Yes, polo. :-)
I was looking at this yesterday after you proposed the Si o Seh Pol bridge for the image on the container side (it's a good fit), and then noticed the image on the container top (this also fits).
Polo has its origins in Persia:
https://www.britannica.com/sports/polo
So a Persian container. Is it for tea or something other? dav2no1 makes a good point about the lack of a lock.
I also suggested the Persian influence..
dav2no1, Yep, I ain't readin' carefully enough. :-(
In reading back, it sounds like it's a relatively modern item, so I don't think a lock would be applicable.