A rare and unusual late 19th century Burmese unmarked silver cigar box, probably Mandalay circa 1890

Of square cuboidal form upon a scalloped base, the hinged domed lid surmounted a detachable chased elephant finial. The body with embossed decoration of a group of three figure, the central one playing a saung (Burmese harp), the side with a figure playing the saung to two elephants, the reverse with a figure holding a saung upon an elephant before another man, the side with a scene of a winged elephant headed creature capturing a woman while other gesture towards the sky. All reserved with against textured ‘wallpaper’ background, and concerned with foliate scrolls, these repeated with the lid with stacked decorative bands. The interior with a removable wooden box with lock and key mechanism.

Height – 19.5 cm / 7.7 inches

Length – 13.1 cm / 5.1 inches

Silver weight – 1055 grams / 33.92 ozt

This presently unidentified tale has been seen on a Burmese bowl also ascribed to Mandalay, sold these rooms, 28 April 2023, lot 457. It may be related to the Meitei tale of Samu Apaibi, or the flying elephant.