Tea Cups

Early 20th century Origin: Kashmir Material: Brass These small brass drinking cups belong to the distinctive domestic tableware tradition of Kashmiri Pandit households. Known as khāsï (cups), they were traditionally used for serving tea and were especially associated with Pandit homes, where brass and bronze vessels formed an important part of the household inventory. Unlike the chinipyaleh, the handleless porcelain cups that became common in Muslim Kashmiri households, these examples are entirely fashioned in brass. Their surfaces are comparatively restrained, allowing the warm golden colour and natural patina of the brass to become the principal decorative qualities. This simplicity contrasts with the heavily ornamented copperware commonly associated with Kashmiri metalwork. Their simple, handleless form reflects a practical response to the heat of freshly brewed tea. Traditionally, the cup could be held with a cloth or by its rim. The use of brass extended beyond drinking vessels in Pandit households. Samovars, plates, cups and other domestic utensils were frequently made in brass or bronze, creating a distinctive material vocabulary within Kashmiri Pandit domestic culture. Private Collection - Traam and Beyond

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