A RARE & BEAUTIFUL BIDRIWARE MUGHAL DECCANI SILVER-INLAID BOTTLE (SURAHI) India, Deccan, CIRCA 17TH/18TH CENTURY. BIDRIWARE BOTTLE (SURAHI), Measurement: 26 cm height. body composed of vertical ridges with tall slender neck rising from a register of petal shapessilver inlaid metal, One of the Finest Pieces!The body moulded with vertical fluting, each flute inlaid with a floral scroll issuing three-petalled flowers and split-palmettes, the shoulder with a further floral scroll.the globular body on a thineverted foot with a tall slender neck widening towards the mouth, decorated with arched cartouches composed of entwined leavesand floral bouquets in between, the neck with two undulating floral bands and geometric designsThis tall, very decorative flask hasbeen decorated using the bidri technique – although rather than the design and motifs being inlaid in silver, the reverse is true,whereby the pattern has been cut out of silver sheet and then what is left has been inlaid into the vessel, so that the pattern inapparent as dark rather than silver Inlaid fields.It sits on a low, flared, ring foot; has a spherical bod, and a tall thin neck.Bidriware isbelieved to have originated in the city of Bidar in the Deccan. It is cast from an alloy of mostly zinc with copper, tin and lead. Thevessels areoverlaid or inlaid with silver, brass and sometimes gold. A paste that contains salammoniac is then applied which turnsthe ally dark black but leaving the silver, brass and gold unaffected.The example here is in excellent condition. A Similar Style Work of Bidriware appeared at Sothebys ARTS OF THE ISLAMIC WORLD Auction in April 2011 and wasSold for 27,500 GBP . The Link: http://www.sothebys.com/en/auctions/ecatalogue/2011/arts-of-the-islamic-world-l11220/lot.362.html . REFERENCES: Mittal, J., Bidri Ware and Damascene Work: in Jagdish & Kamla Mittal Museum of Indian Art, Jagdish & Kamla Mittal Museum or Art, 2011.& Mark Zebrowski, Gold, Silver & Bronze From Mughal India, London, 1997, illustrated no.270, p.185

Extremely Fine Quality