This temple salver is highly incised oxidized copper inlaid with precious enameling.[171A, 147B, 169C] The salver is supported by engraved bronze Hindu snake deity inlaid in mat colored lac.[106D] The salver and holder are artist initialed with cast "Made in India" mark, suggesting a "fin de siecle" dating. The salver (or tray) is hand incised by cold chisel all over the top and eight scalloped lips in Indian motifs. There is a preponderance of floral decorations with black ...click for details
Elaborate repousse copper ceremonial bowl and kusi (small spoon for sprinkling water on idols).[171A ] The outside of the bowl is covered with a relief of floral scrolled design in six branching and interconnected roundels. The relief flowers are chased in hatched and cross-hatched techniques for details.[151B] The recessed areas are hammer and punched to tiny dimples which are stained copper oxide blue. This allows the burnished copper colored floral scroll to shine above the mat blue ground. ...click for details
This cast brass antique vase has two contrasting types of hand incised exemplary embossing styles. The vessel was probably crafted in Kashmir or Moradabad, two Indian centers famous for their brass. The lace-like relief embellishment stands out above inlaid black lac composition.[169A, 171K] The first embossing style is called siahqalam. It is a brass decoration from Moradabad and has a damascene look like bidri ware.[162B] It is a deeper and wider spaced style of incising so that one can feel ...click for details
