A rare, cast and engraved, Deccan bimetal (copper and brass) lota (water vessel).
The central chamber has floral copper designs, with brass leaves, and a brass background. Around the base and hugging the neck are lappets of alternating copper and brass. This combination of both brass and copper is uniquely Indian and is called Ganga-Jamuna, a poetic reference to the contrasting colours of the water of the Ganges and Jamuna rivers. Similar shaped lotas can be found in Christies and Bonhams and in Mark Zebrowski Gold, Silver & Bronze from Mughal India, cat.331, 332, p.211. The lota is thought to be one of the most ancient Indian vessels, with archaeological discoveries of lotas dating to 1st or 2nd century BC. Early versions were often ridged or fluted so it is thought that they took their shape from melons or perhaps hollowed out gourds that were used as water carriers and this botanical origin continued to dictate its form. More than 1500 years later lotas are still found but the Mughal influence meant many had radically different ornament like the lota here. This piece combines the south Indian style of bold ornament and weighty proportions with floral designs derived from Mughal motifs. Lotas such as these can be found in the Victoria and Albert museum, London.