Description:

 A CAST BRONZE EWER WITH DRAGON’S HEAD SPOUT, DECCAN, 16TH CENTURY
Deccan, India, 16th century

Description:
A striking cast bronze ewer of elegant proportions, featuring a globular gadrooned body rising to a tapering neck with a hinged domed lid topped by a finial. The gently curving spout terminates in a stylised dragon's head, a zoomorphic motif typical of Deccani court metalwork. A sturdy arched handle connects the shoulder to the lid, designed for functionality and balance. A frieze of inscribed decoration in nastaʿlīq script encircles the upper register, lending both refinement and a ceremonial character to the vessel. The dark patinated surface with traces of wear and polishing enhances its visual richness, underscoring centuries of use and reverence.

These ewers were often used in elite ceremonial or ablution contexts within the Indo-Islamic courts of the Deccan sultanates, where Persian, Hindu, and local South Indian artistic influences were fused.

Dimensions: 49cm high

Comparable examples:

  • A 16th-century Deccani bronze ewer with zoomorphic spout sold at Sotheby’s, Arts of the Islamic World, 6 October 2010, Lot 106, for £21,250.

  • A related South Indian ewer of similar form and patina achieved £18,750 at Bonhams, Islamic and Indian Art, 23 April 2018, Lot 116.

  • A comparable Deccani bronze ewer with dragon-head spout sold at Christie’s, Art of the Islamic and Indian Worlds, 27 October 2017, Lot 150, for £25,000.

Note:
The sophisticated casting and sculptural quality of this ewer reflect the high standards of metalwork in the Deccan during the 16th century. The dragon’s head spout not only demonstrates technical virtuosity but also reflects regional mythological and protective symbolism. The engraved calligraphy and refined form suggest courtly use, perhaps as part of a ritual cleansing ensemble or for perfumed water.

 

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May 6, 2025 1:00 PM BST
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Bid Increments
From: To: Increments:
£0 £99 £5
£100 £199 £10
£200 £499 £20
£500 £999 £50
£1,000 £1,999 £100
£2,000 £4,999 £200
£5,000 £9,999 £500
£10,000 £19,999 £1,000
£20,000 £49,999 £2,000
£50,000 £99,999 £5,000
£100,000 £199,999 £10,000
£200,000 £499,999 £20,000
£500,000 £999,999 £50,000
£1,000,000 + £100,000