5244

Enquiry about object: 5244

    Your First Name (required)

    Your Last Name (required)

    Your Email (required)

    Your Country (required)

    Your Message

    Long-Spouted Brass Temple Oil Ewer

    South India or Sri Lanka
    18th century

    height: 29cm, weight: 1,118g

    Sold

    Provenance

    UK art market

    – scroll down to see further images –

    This sculptural, elegant ewer has a particularly pleasing shape on account of its long spout which rises like a beak from a bird.

    It sits on a low, flared foot; has a slightly flattened, spherical body; and an ear-shaped handle.

    The top of the body has been cast with various concentric tiers.

    The other striking aspect of this ewer is its patina: it has a deep-chocolate brown hue – its significant age is obvious.

    Such ewers were used in temples in South India and Sri Lanka for filling the wells of small lamps with oil, the elongated, pointed spout being ideal for this task.

    The spout screws into the body and can be removed to allow the ewer to be filled with oil. When the spout is fully screwed in, it points slightly to one side. This seems deliberate and would aid with the flow and precision in pouring.

    A related ewer was offered at Sotheby’s London, ‘Arts of the Islamic World’, October 14, 1999, lot no.: 175.

    References

    Coomaraswamy, A.K., Mediaeval Sinhalese Art, Pantheon Books, 1956 reprint of the 1908 edition.

    Dozens of items are added to our website each month. Be among the first to know about them.
     
    Sign up to our monthly catalogue