A THAI GILT NIELLOWARE LOBED FOOTED TRAY
Thailand, South East Asia, late 18th - 19th century

Of shallow cylindrical shape, resting on a stepped pierced lobed foot divided in two sections, the rim flattened and flared around the cusped border, the interior of the tray with nielloed decoration consisting of a central roundel filled with lush vegetal motifs and a rajasingh (mythical royal lion), the rim with a stylised lotus band, further nielloed vegetal motifs and decorations around the dome-shaped foot and base, 14.5cm diam. and 7cm high.

For similar lobed footed trays and how they were used, please see P. Bromberg, Thai Silver and Nielloware, 2019, p. 102, cat. 3.47. Bromberg discusses in depth the history and evolution of nielloware in Thailand, hypothesising that the technique was probably imported by the Portuguese during the mid-Ayutthaya period. One of the greatest and most ancient centres of production for this art was located in Nakhon Sri Thammarat. Thus why, niello is often known in Thai as thom Nakhon or Nakhon niello (ibidem, pp. 44 - 46).