Vintage Brass Tiffin Carrier | Hand-Engraved 3-Tier Food Container with Handle

Three brass containers stack one on another, a hinged frame drops over the whole column and locks it together, and a handle lifts the lot. That is the entire design, and it worked so well it went essentially unchanged for a century.

Tiffin carriers took a hot meal from a kitchen to wherever someone was working. This one is hand-engraved across the body with floral and geometric pattern, which was not required for the job and tells you somebody wanted it to look like something. That is usually the difference between an object that gets thrown out and one that ends up here.

The engraving is crisp and the compartments still stack and seat securely. At 11.5 inches to the top of the handle it holds a shelf, a counter, or a kitchen island on its own. Sold for display rather than for food.

[d]Type | Tiffin carrier, three-tier stacking food container
[d]Dimensions | 11.5 in. H with handle x 7 in. W x 5 in. D
[d]Container Dimensions | 2.5 in. H x 5.5 in. Dia each
[d]Tiers | Three stacking compartments
[d]Primary Material | Brass
[d]Period | Vintage
[d]Date | Early to mid-20th century
[d]Origin | South or Southeast Asia, assessed
[d]Decoration | Hand-engraved floral and geometric pattern
[d]Maker, Mark, or Attribution | None identified
[d]Construction or Technique | Three stacking brass containers secured by a hinged brass frame with a carrying handle
[d]Also Known As | Tiffin box, dabba, stacking lunch carrier

[condition]
Age-related wear consistent with its vintage nature, including surface patina, minor scratches, and light tarnish to the brass.

The compartments stack securely and the hinged frame closes as intended.

The engraved designs remain crisp and detailed.

Very good condition for display or decorative use.