ANTIQUITIES AND ISLAMIC ART SALE
Lot 182:
Description
This striking 19th-century Indian engraved brass tray captures a dramatic martial tableau, likely representing a colonial-era battle scene between the British and Indian (possibly Sikh) forces. Crafted with meticulous detail, the rectangular tray with canted corners features dense, narrative-style engraving across its surface, exemplifying the high craftsmanship of the period.
The upper register presents a stylized architectural backdrop—possibly a representation of a colonial fort or town—with intricate rows of arches and windows, providing contextual depth to the scene. Below, multiple registers of soldiers are depicted in various dynamic poses: marching, charging on horseback, playing bugles, and engaging in hand-to-hand combat.
Uniformed figures wearing plumed helmets and short tunics, often associated with both British and Indian colonial regiments, dominate the composition. The figures are rendered in a linear, almost folk-art style, emphasizing movement and narrative rather than strict realism. The inclusion of horses, spears, and rifles provides historical clues to the period’s military attire and combat methods.
The border is framed with a geometric and wave motif, enhancing the sense of motion and grounding the scene within a traditional Indian decorative language.
58 x 37cm
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