Chip Carved Merchant Box From Jaisalmer - 19th Century Origin - Laos The four vividly painted figures

The four vividly painted figures have a distinctly European appearance

casting a soft glow across intricately carved façades

The lintel sits above a doorway and was commonly carved in India

it still has most of the original painted drawer labels naming the various natural minerals and herbs that were mixed by the practitioner for each patient

rosewood or jackfruit wood and were used for storing valuables such as textiles

Chip Carved Merchant Box From Jaisalmer - 19th Century Origin - Laos The four vividly painted figuresThis beautifully hand carved 19th century merchant's box originates from Jaisalmer in Rajasthan, a historic trading city that sat at the crossroads of the ancient caravan routes linking India with Central Asia and beyond. Boxes such as this were traditionally used by merchants and traders in bustling bazaars to store cash, account books and valuable documents, while they also played an important role in family life as dowry chests, carrying a young