Description:

 A RARE DUCK-SHAPED CONTAINER, DECCAN, 17TH CENTURY, INDIA
Deccan, India, 17th century

Description:
A rare and striking cast bronze container in the stylised form of a duck, its rounded body finely modeled and supported on a short foot, with a defined crest and serrated beak forming the lid. The surface is darkly patinated, showing signs of age and ritual use, while small chased details enhance the naturalism of the bird’s form. The removable lid reveals a hollow cavity, suggesting its function either as a betel or spice container, or possibly a ritualistic vessel.

Avian-form vessels are a rare but noted feature of Deccani metalwork, often reflecting a blend of courtly opulence and regional artistic playfulness. The duck motif may also reference purity or vigilance in symbolic terms, particularly within courtly or ceremonial contexts.

Dimensions:
Length: 17 cm
Width: 10 cm
Height: 17 cm

Comparable examples:

  • A bronze duck-form container, Deccan, 17th century, sold at Christie’s South Kensington, Indian and Islamic Works of Art, 15 April 2011, Lot 349, sold for £6,250. 

  • A zoomorphic vessel in the form of a duck, Deccan, 17th century, in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, accession no. 1990.310.1. 

  • A similar cast bronze avian container, Victoria & Albert Museum, London, inv. no. IS.210-1889, attributed to Deccan.

Note:

This exceptional vessel is a testament to the ingenuity and stylisation of Deccani bronze artisans. Animal-form containers, particularly in functional guises, were favoured for their novelty, charm, and symbolic potential. The confident casting and functional design of this example, paired with its preserved lid and expressive form, elevate it above the merely decorative and offer a rare insight into 17th-century South Indian court culture.

 

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May 6, 2025 1:00 PM BST
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