Serving pot

Late 19th–early 20th century Origin: Kashmir Material: Copper with tin plating This elegant copper vessel was used for serving kahwa or tea, a custom central to Kashmiri hospitality. Its tall tapering body, domed lid, elongated spout and elaborate scrolling handle create a distinctive silhouette. Decoration is concentrated in horizontal registers around the vessel, leaving broad areas of the copper comparatively plain. The restrained arrangement gives the engraved ornament greater visual weight and allows the warm, weathered surface of the copper to remain visible. Unlike the samovar, the Kahw-e-Josh has no internal fire chamber and was intended solely for serving hot beverage after it had been prepared. It therefore occupied a distinctive place within Kashmiri domestic culture, designed to be more specialised than an ordinary jug, but considerably simpler in function than a samovar. Private collection: Trām and Beyond

Not for Sale