Bidri Basin
c. 1650
Maker Unknown
Indian and Southeast Asian Art
Bidri Basin, c. 1650. Southwestern India, Deccan, Karnataka, Bidar. Zinc alloy with silver and brass inlay; diameter: 34.5 cm (13 9/16 in.); height: 17 cm (6 11/16 in.). The Cleveland Museum of Art, Severance and Greta Millikin Purchase Fund 2020.205 Wide-rimmed basins called sailabchi were used to catch water poured from a pitcher during hand washing before prayer and before and after meals. A sumptuous example such as this was made for an elite setting. Every element of the allover floral arabesque was cut from silver and brass sheets or wire and hammered into the cast zinc alloy vessel in a distinctive technique developed in southern India. Zinc alloy does not rust or corrode, in contrast to steel or copper alloys.
- Maker/Artist
- Maker Unknown
- Classification
- Metalwork
- Formatted Medium
- Zinc alloy with silver and brass inlay
- Dimensions
- Diameter: 34.5 cm (13 9/16 in.); height: 17 cm (6 11/16 in.)
- Departments
- Indian and Southeast Asian Art
- Accession Number
- 2020.205
- Credit Line
- Severance and Greta Millikin Purchase Fund
- Exhibitions
- Life and Exploits of Krishna in Indian Paintings (Indian art rotation), <em>Sultans of Deccan India, 1500-1700: Opulence and Fantasy</em>. The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY (April 20-July 26, 2015).
- Rights Statement
- CC0
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