Vessel
early 18th century (made)
Artist/Maker | |
Place of origin |
This small vessel was made in India in the 18th century and belongs to a class of metalwares known as "bidri". Bidri is a technique known only in the Indian subcontinent, and takes its name from the city of Bidar, in the present-day state of Karnatika, where it is thought to have originated. Surviving pieces date from the late 16th or early 17th century, and it is still being made today. Bidri objects are cast from an alloy in which zinc predominates, though small amounts of lead, copper and tin may also be found. The decoration may be inlaid with silver, or silver and brass, as here, or overlaid with silver wires hammered onto a cross-hatched surface. The final stage of the process is to apply a saline mud paste over the entire surface which changes the dull grey of the alloy to a matt black without affecting the decoration. The exact chemical process which takes place is still unidentified. After removal of the mud paste, the surface of the piece would be rubbed with oil. This piece was bought for the museum by Major Murdoch Smith in Tehran, and it is possible that the tinned copper cover and mounts were added in Iran in the 19th century.
Object details
Category | |
Object type | |
Materials and techniques | Bidri, inlaid with silver and brass with mounts of tinned copper. |
Brief description | Vessel and cover, bidri inlaid with silver and brass, the mounts of tinned copper, (The mounts and cover probably Iran, 19th century). Deccan of Northern India, early 18th century. |
Physical description | VESSEL AND COVER: Bidri inlaid with silver and brass, the mounts of tinned copper. (The mounts and cover probably Iran, 18th century). |
Dimensions |
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Gallery label |
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Object history | This object was bought in Tehran in 1874 by Robert Murdoch Smith, on behalf of the Museum. In one transaction totalling £33.4/, Murdoch Smith bought a range of art objects, including ceramics, metalwork and textiles, from Henry Michael Collins, a British telegraph engineer stationed in Iran between 1872 and 1878. |
Production | or Northern India |
Summary | This small vessel was made in India in the 18th century and belongs to a class of metalwares known as "bidri". Bidri is a technique known only in the Indian subcontinent, and takes its name from the city of Bidar, in the present-day state of Karnatika, where it is thought to have originated. Surviving pieces date from the late 16th or early 17th century, and it is still being made today. Bidri objects are cast from an alloy in which zinc predominates, though small amounts of lead, copper and tin may also be found. The decoration may be inlaid with silver, or silver and brass, as here, or overlaid with silver wires hammered onto a cross-hatched surface. The final stage of the process is to apply a saline mud paste over the entire surface which changes the dull grey of the alloy to a matt black without affecting the decoration. The exact chemical process which takes place is still unidentified. After removal of the mud paste, the surface of the piece would be rubbed with oil. This piece was bought for the museum by Major Murdoch Smith in Tehran, and it is possible that the tinned copper cover and mounts were added in Iran in the 19th century. |
Bibliographic reference | Susan Stronge, Bidri Ware, Victoria & Albert Museum, London, 1985, cat. 20, p. 57. |
Collection | |
Accession number | 1297-1883 |
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Record created | April 24, 2008 |
Record URL |
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