AN ENGRAVED BRONZE LOTA (WATER CONTAINER) WITH THE BISMILLAH
PROPERTY FROM A PRIVATE GERMAN COLLECTION
Northern India, first half 20th century

Of typical globular shape, resting on a curved plain base, rising to narrow shoulders and an everted cylindrical rim, the central and upper sections of the body engraved with overlapping horizontal decorative bands including cusped calligraphic cartouches with the bismillah in Arabic ("in the name of God, the most Gracious, the most Merciful"); sprays of rosettes and stylised lotus flowers, vegetal tendrils, and foliage; and a petal-shaped crown around the neck's base, 28.5cm high and 13cm diam.