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Rare Fish Shape Spoon Rest, Silver, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, Southern India, ca. 1870.

REGISTERED ANTIQUITY – NON-EXPORTABLE ITEM.

 

Object Detail

 

This rare silver spoon rest, crafted during the colonial period, is a fine example of how utilitarian objects could be elevated into works of art. Used in kitchens to rest a spoon or ladle while cooking, it reflects not only domestic function but also the artistic imagination of Indian craftsmen working under colonial influence.

 

The object takes the form of a fish—elongated and open, with a deep bowl that would catch drips and a raised tail that supports the spoon’s handle. The entire piece has been worked using a combination of repoussé, chasing, and punchwork techniques that create both depth and texture. The fish’s head is particularly striking. A large, rounded repoussé eye bordered with chasing dominates the face, while the body is covered in tiny crescent-shaped punch marks that mimic scales. The fish’s slightly raised mouth is smoothly shaped in a fancy artistic way, creating an arabesque motif. At the centre of the bowl, the decoration turns richly narrative. An oval medallion depicts Kṛṣṇa dancing triumphantly on the serpent Kāliya. The medallion has been flanked by two attendants. Below, a four-armed goddess seated on a lotus, almost certainly Lakṣmī, represents prosperity and auspiciousness.

 

On the tail end, another four-armed figure—likely Viṣṇu, crowned with a kirīṭamukuṭa—appears, though his attributes have not been depicted.   In addition to the central figures, the composition is enriched by the presence of delicate rosettes and gracefully swirling leaf tendrils. These botanical elements not only contribute to the overall aesthetic but also create a sense of harmony within the piece. The tail and handle are adorned with scrolling vines and chased linear motifs, ending in a forked fin that not only completes the fish imagery but also serves as a rest for the spoon’s handle.

 

Hence, as Dehejia has observed, Indian workshops of this period often produced objects that were familiar in function yet decorated with richly Indian motifs. This spoon rest embodies that cross-cultural current—an everyday utensil transformed into a symbolic and decorative art piece.

 

Provenance

 

From a Private Collection in Mumbai, India.

 

Condition

 

Good Condition with minor wear.

 

Dimension

 

Length –  7 Inches.

Width  – 3.5 Inches.

Weight – 86.2 grams.

 

Literature Comparison

 

1.Angeline Thangaperakasam, “Indian Silver for the British Raj,” Asia Society India Centre, March 5, 2009. Accessed September 8, 2025. https://asiasociety.org/india/indian-silver-british-raj

 

2.Shax Riegler, “Indian Silver for the Raj,” The Magazine ANTIQUES, February 1, 2009, accessed September 8, 2025, https://www.themagazineantiques.com/article/indian-silver-for-the-raj/?utm_source=chatgpt.com

 

3.Kāliya-mardana Kṛṣṇa, Early Chola period (c. 900–1000 CE), bronze sculpture, 59 × 23 × 16 cm, accession no. 70.11, National Museum, New Delhi; Google Arts & Culture entry, accessed September 8, 2025, https://artsandculture.google.com/asset/Kāliya-mardan-Kṛṣṇa-unknown/xwHHPb69Ge79Uw.

 

4.Madras Silver Art, Behance, accessed September 8, 2025, https://www.behance.net/gallery/17491231/Madras-Silver-Art/modules/118859035

 

5.Vidya Dehejia, Delight in Design: Indian Silver for the Raj (Ahmedabad: Mapin Publishing, 2008).

 

6.Angeline Thangaperakasam, “Indian Silver for the British Raj,” Asia Society India Centre, March 5, 2009. Accessed September 8, 2025. https://asiasociety.org/india/indian-silver-british-raj

 

 

 

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