c. Mid- 19th - early 20th century

Tika Container

The tika (or tilak) is a mark created by applying powder or paste on the forehead, worn traditionally by both men and women. Depending on the design created, it can denote religious affiliations or regional identity. When drawn as a small dot in the center of a woman’s forehead (also called a bindi), a tika is thought to denote marital status and enhance beauty. Used in the solah shringar beautification ritual, the powder is often kept in elaborately decorated containers, such as this example decorated with peacocks, a symbol of love.