A rare and impressive silver-and brass-inlaid alloy bidri basin
Deccan, Second half of the 17th centuryof deep octagonal form, with everted concave sides, the interior decorated in silver inlay with a repeat design of floral sprays, the interstices with chinese-style cloud motifs, the well with a roundel enclosing a flowerhead to centre, with borders of stylised vegetal motifs, the exterior decorated with brass inlay with a repeat design of boteh motifs, with arcade design above and scrolling border below
36 cm. diam. 注脚Provenance
The Property of a Lady

The octagonal form of this dish is extremely unusual in Bidriware and very few other examples of octagonal pieces are known from the 17th Century. The octagonal shape was occasionally used for pan boxes and trays; an early bidri pan box in the Metropolitan Museum (accession no. 1996.3a, b) bears a shape reminiscent of Sultanate architecture, with stylised Persianate decoration typical of the Deccan in the early 17th Century. The octagonal form and flaring sides of the present lot are comparable with an early 18th Century enamelled stand sold at Christie's, Lacquer, Jade, Bronze, Ink: The Irving Collection Day Sale, New York, 21st March 2019, lot 1106.

Whilst the combination of silver and brass inlay was used up until the mid-18th Century, the ornamentation of the present lot indicates a 17th century date of production. In the second half of the 17th Century the ornamentation of the Deccan became increasingly Mughal in appearance following increased Mughal presence in the region. Floral sprays were a primary element of design at the Mughal court and the naturalistic, yet orderly, appearance of the flowers follow on from the style of floral decoration which was pervasive in the era of Shah Jahan's rule. Similar poppies are depicted on a late 17th Century floorspread from the Deccan, now in the Metropolitan Museum (accession no. 1982.239a). Equally, the highly naturalistic curved leaves on the underside can be compared with those on a huqqa base dating to the 17th century (see Mark Zebrowski, Gold, silver and bronze from Mughal India, London, 1997, p.233, fig. 382). Chinese-style clouds are occasionally found on other high quality 17th Century pieces (see Zebrowski, ibid., p.378, figs. 378 and 500.), but it is rare to see groups depicted as in the well of this dish, indicating the creativity and skill of the craftsman responsible for the present lot.