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The ANTIQUE Indian Kankavati is a beautifully crafted brass patina box adorned with intricate lotus peacock finial designs. Originating from India in the early 1900s, this antique piece was meticulously created by Indian artisans. Made from bronze, this Kankavati showcases traditional craftsmanship and exquisite details, making it a unique and timeless addition to any collection of Asian antiques.
These compartmentalized boxes are historically used in Hindu households and temples to store sacred powders and cosmetic ingredients required for daily rituals and ceremonies. The individual sections hold items like kumkum (vermilion), sindoor, haldi (turmeric), rice grains (akshat), and camphor.
This particular piece features a peacock which acts as a screw mechanism. Rotating the bird unlocks and opens the surrounding hinged, petal-like compartments simultaneously like a blooming flower.
Applying kumkum or sindoor to the forehead or hair parting is an essential practice for married Hindu women, symbolizing marital status and prosperity. These ornate boxes were traditionally gifted to brides during weddings as auspicious family heirlooms.
The bird on top is heavily tied to Hindu iconography. If depicted as a peacock, it represents beauty, grace, and immortality, and serves as the vahana (sacred mount) of Lord Kartikeya.
This is perfect for historians, collectors of rare antique items, and/or brass figurines.
