A late 19th Ceylonese (Sri Lankan) unmarked silver casket or tobacco box, Kandy circa 1890 Of rectangular form upon four faceted feet, the domed hinged lid centred with a circular cartouche embossed with a temple and an elephant before palm trees, otherwise reserved with grotesque masks amidst chased foliate scrolls, all edged with a chased band of stylised rosettes. The front and back with an embossed future buddha (maitreya) flanked by mythic beats with tusks and trunks, all reserved with deep chased foliate scrolls, edged with flat chased bands of trailing scrolls. The sides with embossed with a double-headed or bicephalous bird (gandaberunda) reserved the same. The underside with flat chased decoration of two hamsa birds within foliage and rosettes all reserved with ring punching. The interior with a removable galvanised lining. Length – 19.5 cm / 7.65 inches Silver Weight – 796 grams / 25.59 ozt A double-headed bird at the Buddhist temple of Kelaniya, Sri Lanka