Kashmir Tall Silver Flask

This finely-made silver water flask sits on a low ring foot, has a flattened bell-shaped body, with a flattened base, a thin tapering neck, and a domed stopper surmounted by a bud finial.

The body, neck and stopper are finely chased all over with meandering floral and foliage designs based on that of coriander plant. This ‘coriander’ pattern is very typical of colonial Kashmiri silverwork. Such items were made to be sold locally, to the expatriate colonial market, but also for export to London and elsewhere.

The top of the base is chased with a wonderful, wide border of acanthus leaves. There is also a decorative, leafy collar around the lower part of the neck.

The form of such flasks was based on the surahi or surai  flasks that were placed on dining tables during large banquets in Mughal and northern India to hold drinking water to which diners could help themselves.

The example here is in excellent condition. It is free from dents, splits or repairs. It is an unusually good example.