Details

Object type

tray

Place Associated

Asia, South Asia, Bangladesh, Dacca, Fatibzar (place of manufacture)

Materials

silver filigree

Dimensions

overall: 40 mm x 250 mm x 250 mm

Description

This silver filigree tray from Dhaka with its characteristic design of floral motifs is the only example purchased from the 1888 Glasgow International Exhibition.

During the 19th century Dhaka (formerly Dacca) was one of the four great centres for silver work in the former Bengal Presidency. Filigree ware was considered to be of especially high quality, and examples were shown at all the major international exhibitions.

This tray was made by the master craftsman Krishna Charan Kamnakar, a prize winner at the 1903 Delhi Indian Art Exhibition Delhi. Kamnakar probably prepared the materials and made the frames for the designs himself but the intricate wire working would have been carried out by children. The silver used was alloyed with a small proportion of lead and the components built up petal by petal before being welded together to form the tray.

ID Number

1888.109.gh

Location

In storage