Serving Tray

Circa 1850–1880 CE Origin: Kashmir Material: Copper Design: Shawl Tarah This finely engraved copper tray with chased and burnished detailing exemplifies the Shawl Tarah style of Kashmiri metalwork — a design tradition inspired by the intricate embroidery and woven patterns of Kashmiri shawls. The design represents the mature phase of Kashmiri metalwork in the mid-19th century, when chased engraving reached a new level of refinement under late Sikh and early Dogra patronage. By this period, Kashmiri artisans were creating for both local patrons and the growing colonial market, blending traditional craftsmanship with the broader artistic vocabulary inherited from Mughal, Afghan, and Sikh transitions — an artistic continuity that bridged courtly refinement and regional identity. The central field is filled with delicate badam (paisley) motifs — the quintessential Kashmiri ornamental form — surrounded by rhythmic scrollwork and arabesques. The border, with its continuous vine-like pattern, mirrors the embroidered edges of pashmina shawls, translating textile design into metal through exceptional precision and balance. Such trays were prized possessions in the elite and nobile households. Private collection - Trām and Beyond

Not for Sale