Mughal Brass Spittoon, Northern India

Engraved Brass Spittoon

Often, items such as this, somewhat coyly or perhaps erroneously, are described as vases. But in fact it is a spittoon. Spittoons were used in conjunction with a betel or a paan set, betel or paan being a mild narcotic that was chewed, stimulating the production of saliva, which, with the chewed betel, could not be swallowed, but rather needed to be spat out.

This example is of cast brass. The slightly flared foot has an inverted-bell shape which supports a wide, concave rim. The foot and the topside of the rim have been engraved with Ottoman-inspired stylised poppy heads. The underside of the rim has been etched with a wide band of lotus petals. The engraving has then been infilled with black lac thereby highlighting it.

The spittoon has a splendid patina. The topside of the rim has wear from thumbs when it would have been passed from person to person.

Overall, a highly decorative and evocative example of eighteenth century north Indian metalwork.

UK art market

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