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Rare and Magnificent Tray, Silver, Possibly Bhuj, Kutch, Gujarat, Western India, ca 1870.

REGISTERED ANTIQUITY – NON-EXPORTABLE ITEM.

 

Object Detail

 

This silver tray from Kutch is a striking example of the artistry and skill that made the Bhuj workshops famous in the late nineteenth century. Circular in shape, it has a scalloped edge pierced with curling leaves and flowers, creating a lace-like border that lightens the weight of the silver. At the top rises a bold handle formed from two animal-like bodies with a human face—probably the mythical sea creature—curving upward to meet in an arch. The inner surface of the tray comes alive with a hunting scene and human figural composition, a subject that was a favourite in Kutch silverwork. At the very centre, a small plain circle may have been reserved for an inscription, while the surrounding field bursts with activity: a wild boar battles a lion or tiger, deer and antelope leap through curling vines, and hunting dogs chase after their prey, depiction monkeys.

 

A rider on horseback charges into the fray, while human figures, both composed of men and women in turbans and tunics, join the pursuit with animated gestures, showcasing their survival and pastoral life alike. The background is filled with spirals of flowers and vines, a hallmark of Kutch silver. This “flowering scroll” design, described as sinuous vines coiling and winding in infinite, undulating patterns, is one of the most recognisable features of Bhuj workmanship.  Stylised poppies and blossoms curl and twist in every stage of bloom, leaving no space.

 

The technical brilliance of the piece lies in its combination of repoussé—hammering the silver from the back to raise forms—and chasing, where details are worked from the front. Mawji & Sons, active between 1860 and 1890, and later his sons, brought international recognition to Kutch silver. This tray, most likely made between 1880 and 1900, was not only a serving vessel but also a statement of status and artistry. Henceforth, in Delight in Design, Dehejia catalogued many such Silver Salvers from Kutch (Salver is a flat kind of dish without handles) which represented many hunting scenes and floral motifs, but this particular tray is rare as, along with the hunting scenes and foliage, it represented the figural composition in animated form, which makes it an absolutely rare art piece.

 

Provenance

 

From a Private Collection in Mumbai, India.

 

Condition

 

Good Condition with minor wear.

 

Dimension

 

Literature Comparison

 

1.“Indian Silver from Kutch, Gujarat, 1850–1920,” Silver from India, accessed September 13, 2025, https://silverfromindia1850-1920.blogspot.com/p/indian-silver-from-kutch-gujarat.

 

2.Stephen Markel, “Kutch Silver: A Study of Stylistic Sources,” Across the South of Asia: A Volume in Honor of Robert L. Brown (2020), Academia.edu, accessed September 13, 2025, https://www.academia.edu/44937343/Kutch_Silver_A_Study_of_Stylistic_Sources.

 

3.Pushkin’s, “Indian Silver – History & Silversmiths,” Pushkin’s, accessed September 13, 2025, https://pushkins.com/indian-silver-full-article.

 

4.“Indian Silver from Kutch, Gujarat, 1850–1920,” Silver from India, accessed September 13, 2025, https://silverfromindia1850-1920.blogspot.com/p/indian-silver-from-kutch-gujarat.

 

 

 

 

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