Indian Knee Rest for Cooking

A mushroom-capped stand with a pierced crown and a slotted skirt.

This bronze knee rest for cooking is from India, and dates to the early 20th century. Bronze is an alloy of copper and tin, and in India it has long been cast and hammered into utensils and household tools. A domed cap with rows of tiny punched holes and fine incised rings sits on a turned stem with several swelling rings. The wide base is trimmed with a band of long slots. The surface is warm golden-brown with a smooth, handled sheen. It is 6 inches high and 3.5 in diameter.

Perforated top, sturdy middle, slotted hem.