AN ENGRAVED BRONZE LIDDED CUP
Possibly Deccan, Central India, 18th century

Of typical rounded shape, resting on a small circular base, the flat lid raised in the centre with a hemispherical boss, the exterior of the bowl featuring the typical decorative repertoire encountered on Persian metalwork including stylised lotus flowers, split palmette scrolls, knotwork and fretwork bands, the exterior of the lid enhanced with sections of dense naskh calligraphy alternating half roundels with numbers arranged in a similar order to geomantic bowls, the boss with floral bouquets, the interior of the lid with a band of calligraphic cartouches on the outer rim and a stylised rosette medallion in the centre, 9.2cm diam. and 5.7cm high.

For a similar though earlier example of Deccani calligraphic bronze bowl, please see Bonhams London, 8 April 2014, lot 212.