Carved Indian wooden make up box

Black wooden carved boxes with hinged lids for make up.

These black wooden carved containers with hinged lids have hollow spaces inside to contain coloured powders or pastes for use as make up such as the everyday red tikka mark applied to the foreheads of Hindus.

They would also be used for make by dancers such as the Kathakali dancers of Kerala. The top and sides of the boxes are decorated with carved figures.

The boxes in the photos are typical examples, the details may vary, the carving is usually of animals or people.

Dimensions: large approx 25x14x10cm