ISLAMIC, INDIAN ART & JEWELS

Lot 262:

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A SILVER-INLAID BIDRI FOOTED TRAY, SOUTH INDIA, LATE 18TH CENTURY

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Start price: £380

Estimated price: £400 - £600

Buyer's premium:

Description

A finely worked rectangular Bidri tray raised on four short feet, the surface richly decorated with intricate silver inlay characteristic of the finest Deccani workmanship. The tray is organised into a series of framed panels, each filled with densely arranged flowering sprays and palmettes, rendered in shimmering silver against the deep black Bidri alloy. A narrow border of repeating foliate motifs frames the central decorative field, enhancing the geometric harmony of the design.


The tray stands on four simple block feet, each integral to the structure and similarly patinated, the underside showing the expected mottled surface from age and use. The quality of the silver inlay and the balanced composition reflect the high level of craftsmanship associated with late 18th-century Bidri production in South India.

A refined and elegant example of its type, combining utility with the characteristic decorative splendour of Bidri metalwork.

24 x18.5cm