Vintage Ladakhi Box

Dimensions: 24cm wide, 10cm deep, 5cm high.
Code: WOOD 1221

This hand carved ink tablet holder for scribes, with a sliding lid, is from the mid to late 19th century. It was sourced from an antique dealer in the spectacular Himalayan town of Leh, which was the historical capital of the Kingdom of Ladakh. From the middle of the 17th century to the middle of the 20th century, Ladakh was an important hub on the busy caravan trade routes between Central Asia and the Punjab in Northern India, and between Kashmir to the west of Ladakh and Tibet to the east. Ladakh is home to some fine craftsmen that are well known for their wood carving skills, most evident at the spectacular Buddhist monasteries. It would make a lovely storage piece for some special treasures.