Silver repousse on copper box, Tanjore, India, circa 1900. Photo courtesy Amir Mohtashemi Ltd.

On the lid of the box is an exact depiction of the Brihadisvara temple in Tanjore with its distinctive crowned vimana and with a recumbent bull on a stepped nandi mandapa on a North-South axis with the main shrine. The Shrine is dedicated to the worship of Shiva. Its intricately carved walls are covered with the 108 poses of the Bharata-Natyam, a classical Indian dance, mimed by Shiva in person.

The box is covered on all sides with scenes from the life of Shiva to tie in with the iconography on the temple. 36.5cm wide, 18cm high, 16.2cm deep

Amir Mohtashemi Ltd. MasterArt at TEFAF 2014. 14-23 march 2014 - http://www.masterart.com/