AN INDIAN PAINTED GUNPOWDER FLASK  Possibly Gujarat, North West India, 19th century  Of circular form, the composite shape representing a mythical creature, possibly a makara, and emerging from its mouth an elephant and a lady with a peacock, possibly a reference to the Hindu Goddess Sarasvati, painted in red, brown, white, grey, gold and blue pigments, the stopper just below the lady, on a pedestal, 18.2cm high excluding the pedestal.