Indian Bronze Temple Cooking Basin (Charakku or Urly)

This bronze cooking basin known as an urly or charakku is elegantly proportioned, not too large, and has been cast as a single piece. Such vessels were cast in Tamil Nadu in south India and used in temples for cooking dhal and rice over open fires for temple festivals and for pilgrims.

The basin has a flattened bottom with four short feet, and curved sides leading to a broad lip.

The base has been blackened from being on an open fire – this basin has seen much genuine use.

The scrolling loop handles are decorative and have elegant pipal leaf motifs beneath them. The handles are also thick and robust – to all bamboo rods to be inserted  in them to allow the hot, heavy basin to be moved around when in use.

This example was acquired in the UK and almost certainly was brought to the UK during colonial times. It is in fine condition and has an excellent patina.

Above: Stirring dhal at the Golden Temple complex, Amritsar, northern India.