AN ENGRAVED SILVER VASE
Possibly Moradabad, Uttar Pradesh, India, late 19th century

Of cylindrical shape, resting on a flared circular foot, the band below the rim concave, the exterior finely engraved with palm leaves motif, rosette bands, arabesques and trefoil tendrils, all against an intricate vegetal background, the interior and base plain,15cm diam. and 16cm high.

The city of Moradabad is known as Pital Nagri ("Brass City") due to its famous brass handicrafts industry. Silver pieces are rarer but still present and usually showcasing the same typical set of vegetal motifs to be found on brass vessels.