Indian Chalice-Form Hinged & Lidded Box with Peacocks

A little bird perches on a ribbed, round-bellied pot on a stepped foot.

This chalice-form hinged and lidded box with peacocks is from Bengal, Odisha, India, and dates to the 19th century. It is brass. Hinged boxes with lids were generally made to hold small valuables or ritual items, and the hinge lets the lid stay attached when opened. A small lidded vessel with a rounded body covered in rows of beads and ribs, set on a pedestal with a beaded disk foot. A small bird figure stands on the lid knob. A tiny ring handle hangs below the lid. It is 4 inches high and 1.75 in diameter.

A fussy pot with a cheerful bird in charge.