Antique Indian betel box (*pandan*): a substantial circular container featuring a hinged lid adorned with finely hand-engraved geometric and floral motifs and topped with a molded floral knob fitted with a carrying ring, all secured by an original iron clasp. Used throughout the Indian subcontinent to store *paan* ingredients—betel leaf, areca nut, paste, and spices—this type of box was an essential accessory of daily social life, found in both modest households and aristocratic courts. A remarkable piece of material culture, bearing witness to centuries of ritual hospitality and social interaction.

Diameter: 20 cm / Height: 9 cm