Burmese Silver Box

This pleasing rectangular box sits on four elaborate, zoomorphic feet, and has a cover which fits over the top (it is not hinged). The sides are repoussed, chased and engraved with ten figures, all in Burmese dress and each within a separate cartouche. Leafy, scrolling tendrils fill the spaces between the cartouches. Each is likely a character from the Burmese version of the Ramayana.

The cover or lid is raised and has a figure asleep on a bed and surrounded by beautifully arrayed, flowing robes. The bed is surrounded by a beautifully worked border of flowers and leafy scrollwork.

Probably the sleeping figure is Sita, wife of Rama, who is abducted by the demon king Ravana. It might also be Urmila, wife of Lakshman who is the brother of Rama. So that he might better help in the struggle to recover Sita, he asks Nindra, the goddess of sleep, to not sleep for 14 years. Nindra agrees but asks that someone else should sleep on his behalf to keep the balance, so he nominated Urmila.

The box is in fine condition.