Small 19thC Antique Inlaid Gold Koftgari Steel Jewelry Box, North India, NR

…… Constructed from steel or iron this small, antique, Jewelry Box was made in Northern India in the 19th century. It measures 3 ¾” wide by 5 ¼” long and tapers down to 2 ¾” by 4” at the bottom. Including the small feet the overall height is 3 ¾” not counting the original loose ring handle. In our photographs you can see the very fine gold inlaid design called Koftgari. The design is gouged into the iron and then the very high karat gold is hand hammered into the fine grooves. Original Koftgari Gold Inlay was used on important examples of weapons and shields. In the 19th century these metalsmiths began making other items like this mid-19th century Jewelry Chest for the well to do people. … In our photographs you can see one wear spot to the gold caused by holding the box at this post.