INDIAN METAL VASES
âA lot of the vases that were produced
in India during the 19th century were
decorative and made for the colonial
market. The vessels produced for the local
market were less decorative â they were
usually ritualistic or utilitarianâ explains
Michael Backman managing director of
Michael Backman Ltd a London firm
specialising in rare antique Asian Islamic
and colonial decorative arts. âIn India at
that time flowers were used as oerings at
altars and statues but they were changed
every day so there was no need to preserve
them in water.â
Many items that are catalogued as
antique Indian metal âvasesâ werenât ever
intended to be vases at all. âLots of them
are actually spittoonsâ says Backman.
H&A LIFESTYLE: Antiques