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

Of shallow rounded shape, resting on a flat circular base, the rim flattened and ending in a reinforced cusped border in the shape of a flower collar, the interior plain, the rim enhanced with a continuous nielloed decorative band of lotus flowers and vegetal sprays, 2cm high and 21.5cm diam.

These dishes were usually serving the purpose of ceremonial offering trays. 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 (P. Bromberg, Thai Silver and Nielloware, 2019, pp. 44 - 46 and p. 102). A smaller gilt nielloware lobed footed tray was successfully sold in these Rooms, 22 July 2020, lot 193.