Lacquer box containing henna leaves, Iran, 1870-1920

Made:
1870-1920 in Iran
Box, lacquer in shape of a barrel Box, lacquer in shape of a barrel Box, lacquer in shape of a barrel

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Creative Commons LicenseThis image is released under a CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 Licence

Buy this image as a print 

Buy

License this image for commercial use at Science and Society Picture Library

License

Creative Commons LicenseThis image is released under a CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 Licence

Buy this image as a print 

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License this image for commercial use at Science and Society Picture Library

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Box, lacquer in shape of a barrel
Science Museum Group Collection
© The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum

Box, lacquer in shape of a barrel
Science Museum Group Collection
© The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum

Box, lacquer in shape of a barrel
Science Museum Group Collection
© The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum

Box, lacquer in shape of a barrel, detachable lid beautifully painted externally with bird and floral design, one third full of dried frizzled henna leaves, from Turkish pharmacy, Persian, 1870-1920

This ornately decorated box contains dried henna leaves. Henna leaves were mixed with boiling water to form a paste, which was used to treat skin conditions. The lacquer box and its contents were collected and brought back to the United Kingdom by one of Henry Wellcome’s agents from Persia – modern day Iran. His agents spent many years travelling the world and collecting field samples from different medical cultures.

Details

Category:
Materia Medica & Pharmacology
Collection:
Sir Henry Wellcome's Museum Collection
Object Number:
A24246
Materials:
complete, box, wood, box, lacquer and henna
Measurements:
overall: 154 mm 118 mm, .23kg
type:
box and henna leaves
credit:
Wellcome Trust (Purchased from Stevens)