Superb Mughal or Deccan Chased Silver Tray

This is a remarkable silver tray of a quality rarely encountered. The chasing work is superb and among the finest examples we have encountered on Mughal and Deccan silver. The schema is akin to that seen on many Persian carpets.

The tray is also remarkably heavy. The amount of silver used defies description other than that the tray clearly was a piece commissioned by a princely client who also intended it to serve as a store of wealth via the bullion used. The gauge or thickness of the tray makes it heavy but so too does its purity. The silver is almost (or is) pure and this too adds to the density and weight. Most silver we encounter, including sterling silver, is not pure and so is noticeably lighter.

Of elongated, octagonal form, the tray has raised sides, and a flattened edge, all of which are worked with multiple borders of the finest chasing with interlaced flower motifs.

The space between the central cartouche and the outer borders has been left unadorned, providing a pleasing and well-judged break from all the intricate decoration.

Such a tray would have held a paan box. A tray of similar form (but with cruder decoration) is in the Clive Collection at Powis Castle and illustrated in Zebrowski (1997, p. 48). A round tray with comparable decoration and which is attributed to 17th-18th century Deccan is illustrated in Zebrowski (1997, p. 44).

The tray is in very good condition. It is exceptional. Few such trays have survived. The temptation over the years to melt such an item for its bullion value has ensured this.