Pandan box for betel nut and spices

Object Details

• Provenance

  ?-1962

  Taj Enterprises, Bombay (modern-day Mumbai), India, method of acquisition unknown [1]

  1962-?

  Alain Duchauffour (1933-2014), purchased from Taj Enterprises [2]

  ?-1987

  Peter Marks Works of Art, New York, NY probably purchased from Alain Duchauffour [3]

  From 1987

  Arthur M. Sackler Gallery, purchased from Peter Marks Works of Art [4]

  Notes:

  [1] See Taj Enterprises, invoice addressed to Alain Duchauffour, 36 rue de Fontaines, Sevres, France, and dated October 3, 1962, copy in object file. The letterhead on the Taj Enterprises invoice reads “TAJ ENTERPRISES / EXPORTERS / All kinds of / Handicrafts, Readymade Garments, Imitation Jewellery [sic] / Rehmani Building, 4th Floor, / 67, Mutton Street.”

  [2] See note 1. Alain Duchauffour of Sevres, France was a collector of South and Southeast Asian art. He appears to have worked in the banking industry and was active in Asia. He also sold a Thai sculpture to the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York.

  [3] See Peter Marks Works of Art invoice, dated June 17, 1987 (signed July 6, 1987), copy in object file.

  [4] See note 3.

  Research Completed October 21, 2022

• Collection

  National Museum of Asian Art Collection

• Exhibition History

  Gold: The Asian Touch (September 10, 2005 to February 20, 2006)

  America's Smithsonian (February 9 to August 26, 1997)

  Object of the Bi-Month (April 25, 1991 to March 21, 2007)

  Art of India: Painting and Decorative Objects (July 30, 1988 to July 9, 1989)

• Previous custodian or owner

  Taj Enterprises

  Alain Duchauffour (1933-2014)

  Peter Marks, Inc. (active 1963-2002)

• Origin

  Deccan plateau, India

• Credit Line

  Purchase — funds provided by Rajinder K. Keith and Narinder K. Keith in honor of their father, Sardar Gurdit Singh Keith

• Type

  Container

• Restrictions and Rights

  Usage Conditions Apply

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Keep Exploring

• Related Resources

  collections.si.edu

• Date

  1800s, 1700s

• Name

  Taj Enterprises, Duchauffour, Alain, Peter Marks, Inc.

• Place

  Deccan plateau, India

• Topic

  Gilding, South Asian and Himalayan Art, Silver, Art, Animals, Makara, Birds, Flowers, Chasing, Engraving (incising), Piercing, Metal-work

• Culture

  Himalayan peoples, South Asians

• Object Type

  Containers