Cast Brass Engraved Brazier Box with Pierced Charcoal Tray, North India

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Cast Brass Engraved Brazier Box with Pierced Charcoal Tray, North India, Late 19th Century

Dimensions:
Consisting of Two Pieces: the … Read more Cast Brass Engraved Brazier Box with Pierced Charcoal Tray, North India, Late 19th Century

Dimensions:
Consisting of Two Pieces: the Box and the Removable Tray
Box: 10.5” W to handles x 5.5” D x 6” H
Interior: 10” x 5.5” x 5” H
Tray: 9.5” x 5” x 1.5” H

A substantial late 19th-century North Indian cast brass brazier box, deeply engraved with intricate arabesques and equipped with a pierced interior tray for charcoal or incense. Heavily constructed and weighing significantly more than typical sheet-metal examples, this piece was designed for both function and ornament, reflecting the high level of craftsmanship in domestic metalwork from the period.

The exterior is richly decorated on all sides with scrolling foliate motifs, engraved into the thick cast brass surface with precision and depth. The removable interior tray is pierced with geometric and floral patterns and fits snugly within the chamber, raised to allow ash to fall beneath and airflow to keep coals burning. The base of the box is also pierced to draw oxygen from below, enhancing combustion. Two robust iron swing handles are mounted at the sides, allowing safe movement when warm.

This type of brazier box served both utilitarian and ceremonial functions: it was used to gently warm rooms, perfume garments with aromatic wood or resin, or as a portable incense burner during hospitality rituals or religious observances. It was not placed. See less