This is a single tortoise lid box made in solid brass using Dhokra, a 4,000-year-old lost-wax casting technique. There is no mould to reuse. The artisan builds every piece from scratch in wax over a clay core, rolling each thread by hand and coiling it row upon row around the drum, then adding the spirals, the tortoise’s head and feet, and the beaded knob on the lid. The wax model is sealed in clay and filled with molten brass, and the wax melts away. The clay is then broken open to release the brass, so each mould exists only once. Days of handwork go into a single box, and no two ever come out the same.

It’s made for the small things you reach for every day. Keep it by the front door filled with fennel seeds or mukhwas, the sugared spice mix Indian homes offer guests on their way out. In the kitchen it can hold cardamom pods or cloves, and on a dressing table it suits rings, earrings and the little treasures that never quite have a place.

The tortoise stands for steadiness and long life in Indian homes, which makes this a thoughtful housewarming gift.