Rare Brass & Copper Ganga-Jumna Chambu Lota

This well-proportioned water vase or lota sits on a flared foot, has baluster form with a bulbous body, a thin neck and a wide mouth. It is of brass but inlaid with copper strips about its body so that the body is decorated with alternating brass and copper stripes. It has been further decorated with incising or engraving with scrolling flower and lotus petal motifs.

The interior rim has been engraved with an inscription most probably in devanagari script but this has become worn over time.

This type of metalwork whereby copper and brass are used in the one item is known as ganga-jumna metalware. ‘Ganga’ refers to the River Ganges and ‘Jumna’ to the River Jumna (also called Yamuna). The Jumna is the longest tributary river of the Ganges in northern India. It travels a length of 1,376 kilometres (855 miles) before merging with the Ganges at Triveni Sangam, Allahabad, the site for the massive Kumbha Mela festival every twelve years. It is the longest river in India that does not directly flow into the sea.

The water of one has a slight yellow hue on account of he alluvial mud suspended in its waters, whilst that of the other has a reddish hue, and so in this vessel, the two rivers are represented by yellowish brass and reddish copper, with the combination ion the one vessel being symbolic of their merging and mixing at Triveni Sangam.

Such a vessel was made to store lustral holy water, perhaps from the Ganges.

A vessel of similar form that combined copper and brass and which is attributed to the 17th century is illustrated in Zebrowski (1997, p. 213).

The vessel here has a superb wear and patina and is in fine condition. It is sculptural, well proportioned, and particularly pleasing.