An unusual silver-gilt betel container in the form of a sitar Oudh, 19th Century

An unusual silver-gilt betel container in the form of a sitar Oudh, 19th Century in the form of a sitar with two hinged doors opening to reveal four compartments in the neck and one in the body, the kaddu with large repoussé foliate decoration and engraved undulating vines, the tabli with engraved floral and foliate motifs, the neck terminating in a swan, highlighted with gilt decoration, gilt interior, copper strings, mounted 50 cm. long; 1225 g. Footnotes: Published Pratapaditya Pal et al., Dancing to the Flute: Music and Dance in Indian Art , Sydney, 1997, pp. 193-6, no. 117. Exhibited Art Gallery of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia, June 12 - August 24, 1997. The elegantly curved swan at the top of the sitar's neck alludes to the hamsa , the vehicle of Sarasvati, goddess of music and the arts. The word hamsa has a further musical connotation, in that its two syllables ham and sa are considered to be the sounds of inhalation and exhalation. For further information on this lot please visit Bonhams.com