Context (Auction / Sale)
Singer, Noel Francis states: Bought from Patricia Harvey, 176 Westborne Grove, London on 12 July 1972 for £24. An invoice for this sale was seen with the object which reads 'Invoice 85 12/7 1972 PATRICIA HARVEY ANTIQUES 176, WESTBOURNE GROVE, W11 BAY 5412 Private TUD [illegible] 1 RED LACQUER ROUND BOX £24 Paid Cash [illegible signature] [non-Latin script]'.
Event Date 12/7/1972
Author: Eleanor Wilkinson

Description (Labels & Markings)
Marked 'B.L.18.N.F.S' in black ink. The 'BL' number is in reference to a previous inventory devised by the collector during the ?1980s, one version of this inventory was seen amongst the collectors paperwork dated to 12th July 1983.
Event Date 12/07/1983
Author: Eleanor Wilkinson

Context (References)
Singer, Noel Francis. 1989. 'The Ramayana at the Burmese Court. Arts of Asia. no 6. p. 91.
Event Date 1989
Author: Eleanor Wilkinson

Context (References)
Singer, Noel Francis. 1996. Nineteenth century Court Lacquerware from Myanmar and the Box of 'The Sorceress'. Arts of Asia. no 4. p. 96.
Event Date 1996
Author: Eleanor Wilkinson

Description (Labels & Markings)
A label adhered to the exterior reads '6'. This is in reference to an inventory of lacquerware seen amongst the collector's paperwork written on 14th April 1999.
Event Date 14/04/1999
Author: Eleanor Wilkinson

Description (Physical description)
A large complete bamboo betel box in seven parts. It is covered with lacquer and decorated in red, black, and yellow depicting a theatrical show at a palace and episodes from the Ramayana. Finely cut zig-zag shaped thin strip of bamboo appear around the base with a panel of put-lone or turned pillars near the base. The central medallion depicts a theatrical show being held within the palace with the king seated with an attendant on the veranda. Behind him sits his consort within a tall pavilion with more buildings at the back. Below the palace platform are a goat, solders, female musicians (distinguished by their hairstyle) and male colleagues playing various instruments. Before them are the principle characters from the Ramayana. The side depicts episodes from the Ramayana. It begins with the shooting of the demon deer and ends with the attack on Lanka. Monkey army, armed with muskets and a cannon can be seen by the city wall. On the base a horseman wearing an unusually complicated turban - a type fallen out of fashion by the 1850s.
Event Date 16/11/2017
Author: Eleanor Wilkinson