Indian Stupa-Form Box on Wheels

Heavy little cart, with a ring on the lid for a handle.

This stupa-form box on wheels was carved from wood in Maharashtra, India, in the mid 19th century. Boxes like this are commonly associated with storing small valuables or ingredients in the home. A tiered, octagonal body rises beneath a domed lid with a metal ring for lifting. The base sits on a carriage with two pairs of pale wheels and carved animal-form corners. The wood is dark and smooth, with a brownish, aged patina.

About 13 inches tall. Small enough to move, solid enough to stay.