* Deux Surahi de Sialkhot

India, Punjab region, late 19th century Pyriform decanters on ring heel, in damascened steel profusely inlaid with gold in deep koftgari or "Teh Nashan", with vegetal interlacing forming different compositions according to the registers. Fretel stoppers. Condition: slight corrosion Size: 30 cm. The technique of koftgari (gold inlay) seems to have spread from Persia to India, via the Timurids, in the Punjab and later also in Rajputana. At the beginning of the 20th century, only the Sialkot workshops were still in operation. An example similar to the present bottles is reproduced in Sir George Watt's catalog, Indian Art Exhibition (1902-1903: Delhi, India), pl. n°11-A. n°2, and p. 43-46. It is described as follows: "There are various forms or qualities of this work, the most valuable being that known as (A) Teh Nashan or deep Koftgari (plate no. 11-A, figs, 1, 2 and 3).- In this case, the steel is deeply engraved and a thick gold or silver wire is hammered into the grooves. It is then filed, cleaned and blued, until it forms a perfectly smooth and polished surface. Provenance: This lot is sold as a temporary import. Two bottles in gold damacened forged iron India, Probably Sialkot, Punjab.