Description:
- Brass, copper and silver Planter, from the Second Half of the 19th century. These types of large containers were also used as decorative centers and sometimes even as kitchen utensils.
- This Planter is made based on Hindu aesthetics and traditions, but with a clear Persian influence in many of its aspects.
- It is decorated with horizontal borders, made through copper applications, using various plant motifs and small hemispheres.
- Framing the borders, in order to highlight them, it has borders formed by inlays of hexagonal pieces of silver.
- In the central strip, it has thirteen different figures from each other. They are made by means of high relief embossing and chiselled from a copper plate, so once applied to the brass, these figures are hollow. This circumstance allows that by small blows, some parts of the figures are dented.
- These figures represent a half-naked woman dancing, dressed in what looks like winged contraptions, and having at her feet a fawn or similar. Between each figure there is a chiseled "profile", all different from each other.
- The figures could represent the goddess "Ménaka", who is an Apsará or Celestial Nymph. Indra sent Ménaka from Heaven to Earth. Ménaka had several mountain children. Indra cut the wings of all the mountains except those of Mount Mainaka. All this could justify the wings that the figures possess.
- The figures could also represent "Urvashí", who is an Apsará or Celestial Nymph of the court of Indra. Indra sent his Apsará from Heaven to conquer his enemies. Urvashí fell in love with a mortal, who left him going up to Heaven. All this could justify the wings that the figures possess.
- The Apsará, who are Celestial Nymphs of aquatic origin, are represented with musical elements, and as dancers in the court of the warrior God Indra. All this could justify the posture "dancing" that the figures possess.
- In any case, it is clear that this representation of "Ménaka" or "Urvashí", is totally unpublished, both for incorporating winged contraptions and for the posture of dance.
- All this decoration of the Planter is enriched with a fine chiseled, which finishes off the various drawings, inlays and appliques.
- The underside of the base is decorated with an engraved star pattern.
- The Planter is made of a single piece of brass, shaped and finished off at its edge, being manufactured with great quality. It is complete and very well preserved, with minimal wear, and presenting a nice patina.
- In some parts, the copper applications have sunk, with some parts of the dancers having suffered more, such as the thigh of one of them.
- The Planter has a blow to the side, which has caused a small dent.
- This type of work corresponds to those carried out at the beginning of the 19th century in the area from Persia to India, with a clear influence of the work carried out in Damascus (Syria), recovering the ancient Turkish styles, and following the ancient methods of the metal treatment.
- We have not detected any Badge or Contrast that can identify the piece.
Comments:
- It is a unique piece, due to the unprecedented way of representing the figures in the central strip.
- It is very rare to find this type of objects and with this quality.
- Both the Measurements and the Weight are approximate.
- Very interesting as a collector"s item and as a decorative element.
- It could be spectacular in a minimalist decoration.
- Because differences in shades between photos and reality are inevitable, it must be kept in mind that the tones of the colors of the photos are not exactly the same as the tones of the real colors.
- The Object presents the wear typical of its time, as well as some stains. It has small flaws.
- The data provided here are unconfirmed personal opinions.
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2576 - Indo Persian Planter. Old...