Cleveland Museum of Art

Bidri Basin

Date

c. 1650

Medium

Zinc alloy with silver and brass inlay

Culture

Southwestern India, Deccan, Karnataka, Bidar​

Department

Indian and Southeast Asian Art

Institution

Cleveland Museum of Art

Wide-rimmed basins called sailabchi were used to catch water poured from a pitcher during hand washing before prayer and before and after meals. A sumptuous example such as this was made for an elite setting. Every element of the allover floral arabesque was cut from silver and brass sheets or wire and hammered into the cast zinc alloy vessel in a distinctive technique developed in southern India. Zinc alloy does not rust or corrode, in contrast to steel or copper alloys.

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