Indian Brass Paan Box From Rajasthan - Early 20thC Wardrobes This beautifully painted 19th century

This beautifully painted 19th century Mongolian book cabinet has retained its original paintwork

' Traditionally they were made from stone and so work perfectly as a planter in an English garden

Made from pine wood and hand forged ironwork these antique doors would have come from a home in central China

The central stand is called a stambha and is decorated with both an elephant and a peacock

Indian Brass Paan Box From Rajasthan - Early 20thC Wardrobes This beautifully painted 19th centuryThis pretty antique Indian brass box was used for the storage of paan leaves and dates to the early 20th century. Paan is a preparation, which combines a paste of spices in a betel leaf, which is chewed for its stimulant and psychoactive effects. After chewing it is either spat out or swallowed. Paan has many variations. Slaked lime (chunam) paste is commonly added to bind the leaves. The skilled Paan maker is known as a paanwala in North India.