Tribal Punjab Old Silver, a pierced handcarved container, crafted around the mid-1900, possibly earlier, probably to hold a ball of perfume-saturated cloth. A particularly fine piece, very well made, quite solid.
Its origin, Multan, is an ancient city -said to have been besieged by the forces of Alexander the Great during his Punjab excursions- on the fertile southern reaches of the Chenab River, not far from where it joins the mighty Indus; it has had a distinct Muslim flavour since the early Arab invasions of the 700’s, and has always been a favourite place of exile for disaffected Afghan leaders-in-waiting.
Note the last image in the gallery above: the fine craftsmanship of this lovely container is evident even in the rear of the piece.
(Punjab means “Five Rivers”, referring to the five great flows, of which the Chenab is one, all tributaries of the Indus, which water the area.)

The Silver chain shown can be purchased and sent with the old Tribal Punjab container once the price has been altered on site to $280.00.