Pair of Antique Himalayan Bowls Copper Silver-Plated Overlay c.1900 Hand Chased

Details

Description

Authentic matching pair of antique pre-industrial Himalayan frontier folk art utility bowls, dating from the late 19th to early 20th … Read more Authentic matching pair of antique pre-industrial Himalayan frontier folk art utility bowls, dating from the late 19th to early 20th century. Have been in a private collection since they were acquired by an anthropologist family member, thought to have been from when living on the Asian Indian subcontinent in the 1940s & 50s.
These pieces originate from the cultural trade corridors where the southwestern frontier of the historical Qing Empire met the Himalayan kingdoms. Height 2.5 inches, Diameter 4.25 inches
Construction & Materials:
Genuine double-walled (insulated) vessels, traditionally used for serving warm butter tea or wine. Feature a smooth interior lining locked to an ornamental outer sleeve via a hand-cut, saw-tooth crimped copper base plate underneath. See photos for hand tooling marks and material. The bases are unmarked, authentic to provincial village blacksmith production of the era.
Design & Patina:
The exterior sleeves decorated in a distinctive "flat art" naive folk style, featuring hand-chased figures (presumably ancestral guardians or devotees) framed by simple four-lobed lotus scrolls. The pieces exhibit an excellent, untouched aged patina with expected sulfide oxidation in the recessed tooling, contrasted by natural copper bleed where the silver plating is worn from decades of handling.
Condition:
Very good antique condition. No major dents or structural breaches. Authentic surface wear and oxidation consistent with age and use. Please see photos for details. See less