Description
This finely crafted gold and silver damascened (Koftgari) steel ewer is of large piriform (pear-shaped) form, resting on a ring-shaped, slightly flared base, which has been entirely plated with a continuous band of rectangular silver-plated panels. The body rises elegantly to a tall, waisted neck, accentuated by a central moulded ring, and is surmounted by a hinged conical lid topped with a lotus-flower knop finial.
The ewer has a curved spout ending in a stylised dragon head and an S-shaped handle terminating in a stylised makara-like head with a spiral-coiled steel terminal. The surface is richly decorated with gold and silver Koftgari overlay, including scrolling vines, rosettes, cusped foliage, and interlocking palmettes.
The tall, elegant shape of this ewer has a long history, having been employed in earlier Deccani and Mughal metalwork traditions of the 16th and 17th centuries. This late 19th-century example represents a revival of that prestigious form, making it both a nod to historical artistry and a reflection of late 19th-century craftsmanship.
Lot 191, illustrated p. 148, 16th. century Mughal Dynasty Brass Ewer, from North India, Mark Zebrowski, Gold, Silver & Bronze from Mughal India, 1977.
While lavishly decorated, the ornamentation remains non-figural and non-inscriptional, allowing this type of ewer to appeal across different cultural and religious communities in India. Its elegant yet neutral design made it suitable for Muslim, Hindu, and Sikh patrons alike, reflecting a refined aesthetic that transcended sectarian boundaries. This cross-cultural appeal is supported by comparisons to related Koftgari steel objects from Punjab, including a gold-overlaid casket currently on display at the Victoria and Albert Museum in London.
Historical and Artistic Context
This ewer represents a late 19th-century revival of traditional Indian metalwork forms, produced in the Punjab region, specifically Lahore, and associated with the Mayo School of Industrial Art. Under the guidance of figures like John Lockwood Kipling, the Mayo School played a key role in preserving and promoting high-quality decorative arts in late 19th-century British India.
Lot 97, illustrated p. 88 (gold-overlaid steel casket with comparable lotus finial; currently on view at the Victoria and Albert Museum, London). The Arts of the Sikh Kingdoms, Susan Stronge, Victoria and Albert Museum Publications, 1999.
