Salver
Description
The circular salver has scalloped edges which give it the shape of a flower in full bloom. The salver has been embellished with fine gold damascening. At the centre is a hexagonal flower surrounded by six drop-shaped petals forming another flower. The centre and petals themselves have an all-over design of small eight-petalled flowers and leaves. The background has spiral designs, surrounded by concentric circles with simple slanting lines within. The design of small flowers is repeated in the scalloped edges.
The floral design in this salver is exactly the same as in the flower vase.Probably they belong to a set.
It is interesting to note an account of damascene work given by Abul-Fazl in the Ain-i-Akbari. “The koftagar or gold-beater, inlays on steel or other metals, marking more delicate than the teeth of a file, and damascene with gold and silver wire. He receives one hundred dams for each tolah of gold and sixty for a tolah of silver. His work is principally on weapons.”
Sir Ratan Tata Art Collection.
Collection
Indian Decorative Art
Object Type
Decorative Art
Material
Damascene work
Schools/Culture/Period
--
Technique
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Date
19th Century CE
Location
Deccan
Dimension
Diameter 21.7 cm