Lot 195: AN INDO-PERSIAN SILVERED BRASS ZOOMORPHIC VESSEL IN THE FORM OF A FISH

This silvered brass zoomorphic vessel is fashioned in the form of a stylised upright fish, likely originating from Northern India or Iran during the 18th or 19th century. The piece features a central flared spout at the head and a secondary cylindrical spout emerging from the dorsal region, connected by a curved loop handle. The body is supported by a short stem on a flared, circular pedestal base. The exterior surface is decorated with extensive chasing and punch-work, featuring overlapping concentric semi-circles representing scales, interspersed with small dots and hatched lines. The head is defined by two prominent, bulging eyes with deeply incised lids and a pointed snout. The metal shows a yellowish-brass substrate where the original silvered or tinned finish has worn away. The underside of the base features a central circular protrusion, likely a remnant of the casting process, which contains no legible maker’s marks, signatures, or alphanumeric characters. The construction involves lead-solder joins at the attachment points of the handle, spouts, and base.

H; 13cm