Indian Wood Opium Box

A little domed lid ribbed in copper and black stripes, with a dark knob

This opium box is from Ramgarh, Rajasthan, India, and dates to the early 20th century. It is rodha wood & teak wood. British smuggling of Indian opium into China led to the First Opium War, and the 1842 Treaty of Nanking opened more ports to the West, legalized opium imports and ceded Hong Kong. A low domed object with radiating bands of copper-colored and dark stripes, edged with tiny rivets. Concentric rings circle a dark rounded knob at the top. The surface is warmly toned and slightly worn. It is 3.25 inches high and 10.5 in diameter.

Striped like a tiny parasol, and a little overdressed for its size.