Large Northern India Brass Ewer
A large engraved cast brass ewer (aftaba) Northern Mughal India, 17th/18th century. An imposing cast brass water ewer of bulbous form, rising from four stylized short feet to a heavy, pear-shaped body. The exterior is densely decorated with panels of hand-engraved cross-hatching and diaper patterns, interspersed with smooth teardrop and cartouche medallions. The slender, multi-faceted tapering spout terminates in a simple diagonal mouth. A sturdy, handle with an integrated thumb-rest loops to the high, flared neck, which features a prominent horizontal collar band and is capped by a hinged, domed lid with a pointed bud finial. Approx. 430cms h.
Essay:
The form and technical execution of this ewer align with the corpus of Indo-Islamic utilitarian metalwork documented- by the late art historian Mark Zebrowski in his seminal publication Silver, Gold and Bronze from Mughal India (Alexandra Press, 1997), chapter 11. While earlier 16th and 17th century Deccani and Mughal prototypes favor seamless, fluid cast bodies or dynamic ribbing, the structured panelled geometry, dense surface hatching and independent angular feet seen on this piece are characteristic of the later Northern Provincial outputs - specifically those centred around Lahore and Upper India during the first half of the 18th century.
Provenance: Private Collection London.
A large engraved cast brass ewer (aftaba) Northern Mughal India, 17th/18th century. An imposing cast brass water ewer of bulbous form, rising from four stylized short feet to a heavy, pear-shaped body. The exterior is densely decorated with panels of hand-engraved cross-hatching and diaper patterns, interspersed with smooth teardrop and cartouche medallions. The slender, multi-faceted tapering spout terminates in a simple diagonal mouth. A sturdy, handle with an integrated thumb-rest loops to the high, flared neck, which features a prominent horizontal collar band and is capped by a hinged, domed lid with a pointed bud finial. Approx. 430cms h.
Essay:
The form and technical execution of this ewer align with the corpus of Indo-Islamic utilitarian metalwork documented- by the late art historian Mark Zebrowski in his seminal publication Silver, Gold and Bronze from Mughal India (Alexandra Press, 1997), chapter 11. While earlier 16th and 17th century Deccani and Mughal prototypes favor seamless, fluid cast bodies or dynamic ribbing, the structured panelled geometry, dense surface hatching and independent angular feet seen on this piece are characteristic of the later Northern Provincial outputs - specifically those centred around Lahore and Upper India during the first half of the 18th century.
Provenance: Private Collection London.
