Brass object help

Hi everyone

I wonder if anybody can identify this small
brass trinket box

It is 4 inches by 4 inches and about 3.5 inches
high it has some writing on it see Image 5 but
i am unable to make this out.

Any information on it will be really appreciated.

Yours
AntiqueAndy

 

Hi,
Looks like an Indian box for storing colored powder for the holiday were people have colored dyes tossed at each other.
greg

 

Oh, I was going to tell you don't open it - (Hellraiser box)

 

I think the writing in the last photo might be upside down. It looks right side up in the third photo. I can't read it, though. Maybe Sanskrit?

 

Indian (or a close culture)? Spices or makeup?

 

Hi,
I forgot to mention that the peacock on the handle is often used on the box to store powdered dyes for HOLI the spring festival in India. When I lived near Islin,
NJ who has the largest Indian population, all of the stores had numerous brass boxes like these for Holi. I bought three or four antique ones at yard sales there.
The largest one had nine compartments. I gave them to Indian friends as presents.
greg

 

Thanks for all the great reply's everybody.
I was not even close to your conclusions and
when i purchased it was thinking it was possibly
a piece of trench art.

 

It is an Indian tikka box, originally to store a bindi or tikka powder in. The bindi is the coloured spot or decoration on the forehead:


The original bindi is a red spot, it has religious significance, as has the powder. Sometimes the tikka powder is put on the scalp as well:


Now they also use the boxes for small amounts of coloured powder for Holi, but it is still called a tikka box.
The peacock on the handle signifies that it is a box for a beauty product.

 

You're right, it is upside down in the last photo. The writing is Devanagari, it is used for different Indian languages, including Sanskrit, but also Hindi.

 

Great post Any Jewelry

Just seen a couple like it on ebay sorry about
the late reply.