Cup

20th century Origin: Kashmir Material: Geen serpentine A small, hand-carved cup in green serpentine, a stone historically valued in the region not only for its distinctive translucent green colour but also for its association with medicinal and protective properties. Known as Zahar Mohar in Kashmiri, mineral preparations made from serpentine have been associated with traditional systems of medicine. What makes this particular example especially compelling is the evidence of use preserved on its underside. The base has been repeatedly abraded, leaving a noticeably worn surface. This wear records the grating of stone to produce a fine powder or paste, which was traditionally incorporated into medicinal preparations. The cup is particularly valuable because its history of use remains physically legible. The worn base provides a rare material trace of an older therapeutic practice, one in which the boundary between an object, its material and its medicinal function was fluid. Private collection: Traam and Beyond

Not for Sale