Beaker and Cover thumbnail 1
Image of Gallery in South Kensington
On display at V&A South Kensington
South Asia Gallery, Room 41

Beaker and Cover

mid 17th century (made)
Place of origin
Mughal empire (made)

This silver beaker is unique in form, and was almost certainly a courtly object made during the reign of the Mughal emperor Shah Jahan (r.1628–1658).
The Mughal silversmith has taken the shape from a European beaker, altering it slightly and giving it a cover of Indian form. The European prototype may have come to Hindustan by way of foreign merchants anxious to secure trading privileges and well aware of the need to provide gifts for the emperor and highest-ranking figures at court. The floral decoration is consistent with that used on major monuments during Shah Jahan’s reign (1628-58).


Object details

Categories
Containers
Drinking
SCRAN
Metalwork
Object type
Beaker and cover
Parts
This object consists of 2 parts.

  • Beaker
  • Cover
Materials and techniques
Silver and gilt, chased and engraved
Silver
Physical description
Silver beaker and cover, the inside gilt, chased and engraved.
Dimensions
  • Height: 14.2cm
  • Diameter: 8.3cm
Style
Mughal
Summary
This silver beaker is unique in form, and was almost certainly a courtly object made during the reign of the Mughal emperor Shah Jahan (r.1628–1658).
The Mughal silversmith has taken the shape from a European beaker, altering it slightly and giving it a cover of Indian form. The European prototype may have come to Hindustan by way of foreign merchants anxious to secure trading privileges and well aware of the need to provide gifts for the emperor and highest-ranking figures at court. The floral decoration is consistent with that used on major monuments during Shah Jahan’s reign (1628-58).
Bibliographic references
  • Guy, John and Swallow, Deborah (eds.) Arts of India: 1550-1900. Text by Rosemary Crill, John Guy, Veronica Murphy, Susan Stronge and Deborah Swallow. London : Victoria and Albert Museum, 1990, reprinted 1999. 240 p. : ill. ISBN: 1851770224. p.91, pl.67 Mark Zebrowski, Gold, Silver & Bronze from Mughal India, Alexandria Press in association with Laurence King, London 1997, pl. 78, p. 90 Jorge Flores and Nuno Vassallo e Silva eds, Goa and the Great Mughal, Lisbon,2004, cat. 118 p. 228, illustrated p. 117.
  • Susan Stronge, Made for Mughal Emperors. Royal Treasures from Hindustan, IB Tauris, London, 2010, p. 173, pl. 135,
  • Ayers, J. Oriental Art in the Victoria and Albert Museum, London 1983, ISBN 0-85667-120-7 p. 73
  • Irwin, John, C., A Brief Guide to Indian Art, H.M.S.O. 1962 fig. 30
  • Irwin, John; Indian Art: Victoria & Albert Museum departmental guide, H.M.S.O. ISBN 0 905209117, 1978 fig. 31, 1961
  • Skelton, Robert, et al, The Indian Heritage. Court life and Arts under Mughal Rule London: The Victoria and Albert Museum, 1982 p. 112, cat. no 323, Susan Stronge
Collection
South & South East Asia Collection
Accession number
IS.31&A-1961

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Record createdFebruary 3, 2003
Record URL
https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O73744/beaker-and-cover/
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