Indian Silver Mughal Thali/Dish

Exceptionally Fine Chased Silver Tray (Thali)

Deccan, India

This good-sized tray or thali is of hammered silver that has been superbly chased with floral and geometric designs. The outer rim is decorated with a fine band of petal-like depressions.

A smaller silver tray but with similar chasing is illustrated in Zebrowski (1997, p. 44). A silver hookah base attributed to late seventeenth century Deccan that has bands of similar chased floral motifs is illustrated in Zebrowski (p. 46).

The tray was in the collection of the American designer Lockwood de Forest (1850-1932) who was best known for his designs based on the arts and crafts of the Middle East and India. He drew inspiration particularly from the work of the

mistri of Ahmedabad, India, a sub-caste of skilled wood carvers. House Beautiful described de Forest’s New York home as ‘the most Indian house in America.’ He began his professional career in partnership with Louis Comfort Tiffany another American designer who became synonymous with Art Nouveau in America, and went on to create Anglo-Indian interior designs for many of America’s wealthiest industrialists.

Overall, this is an excellent and comparatively early example of Deccan silver-work with a fascinating provenance.

Lockwood de Forest.

Zebrowski, M., Gold, Silver & Bronze from Mughal India, Alexandria Press, 1997.