Ganjifa cards
Late 19th to early 20th century  
Wooden box, Lacquered leather

Ganjifa or Indian playing cards had figurative designs painted onto lacquered surfaces. Popular themes included the Dashavataras, the Ramayana, Mughal courtiers and later European suites were included. Sawantwadi (Maharashtra), Bishnupur (West Bengal) and Nirmal (Andhra Pradesh) were popular centres of this craft.