₹50,000 ₹45,000 10% OFF
This extraordinary vintage lithographed tin box is a remarkable survivor from the golden age of Indian printed advertising and decorative tinware.
The lid is dominated by a beautiful mythological composition in the visual tradition associated with Raja Ravi Varma and early Ravi Varma-derived popular imagery. The figures are presented in rich greens, reds, golds and earthy tones against a romantic landscape, giving the lid the appearance of a miniature chromolithographic painting rather than an ordinary commercial container.
What makes the piece particularly significant is the combination of fine pictorial imagery and surviving period trade information. The reverse carries the name:
Kishori Lal Khettry
Tambul Bihar No. 2
89 Beadon St., Calcutta
along with registered trade-mark graphics and an old portrait medallion. These original markings give the box an important historical and commercial context and add greatly to its desirability as a collectible.
The side panels also retain old product and advertising inscriptions, further reinforcing its identity as an authentic piece of Indian commercial packaging from an earlier era.
Unlike later decorative reproductions, this box possesses the visual character collectors seek in genuine old lithographed tinware: aged printing, patinated metal, worn edges, period typography, old trade marks and a naturally distressed pictorial surface.
For a serious collector, its appeal lies not only in the Ravi Varma subject itself but also in the way it brings together Indian mythological art, colonial-era Calcutta commerce, advertising history and early mass-produced decorative imagery in a single object.
Why This Piece Is Special
Exceptionally rare vintage Indian tin box
Ravi Varma subject / Ravi Varma-era mythological imagery
Rich multicolour lithographed pictorial lid
Original Kishori Lal Khettry trade branding
Marked Tambul Bihar No. 2
Original address: 89 Beadon St., Calcutta
Registered trade-mark graphics
Period portrait medallion on the reverse
Original old advertising inscriptions on the sides
Beautiful naturally aged metal and printed surface
Highly decorative and historically interesting
Important collectible for Indian advertising and printed-tin enthusiasts
Strong crossover appeal for Ravi Varma, Calcutta memorabilia and Indian visual-culture collectors
Collector’s Note
Pieces of old Indian lithographed tinware that retain both high-quality mythological imagery and clearly readable period commercial branding are increasingly difficult to find. The survival of the Ravi Varma-associated subject together with the Kishori Lal Khettry / Calcutta markings makes this example especially compelling for advanced collectors.
This should be viewed not merely as an old storage box, but as a piece of early Indian commercial art and visual history.
Condition
The box is preserved in authentic vintage condition with visible paint losses, scratches, oxidation, surface marks, edge wear and natural patination throughout. The pictorial artwork and period typography remain substantially visible and visually impressive.
No attempt has been made to disguise the age of the piece; its wear is an integral part of its history and collectible character. Please study all photographs carefully for the exact condition.
Ideal For
Serious collectors of Ravi Varma-related material, Indian lithography, vintage advertising, antique tin boxes, Calcutta memorabilia, old Indian packaging, museum-style collections, heritage interiors and rare Indian ephemera.
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