Indian Tikka Container on Lotus Base

Shallow lamp dish on a bell-shaped foot, with a pointed finial like a bud.

This cast bronze tikka container on a lotus base is from India, and dates to the 19th century. Cast bronze vessels made for pigment and ritual use in India are usually produced by the lost-wax process, then finished by hand. Twin-lobed dish with spouted ends, curving up around a central pointed finial, held on curling arms above a lotus-petal bell base. The finish is soft golden yellow with darker age marks and some dents. It is 2.5 inches wide, 3.25 deep and 3 high.

Petal base, bud top, and plenty of curves in between.