Indian Column-Form Holy Water Vessel with Inscription

Stout, straight-sided cylinder with a flared lip and a worn golden glow.

This column-form brass holy water vessel with inscription is from Rajasthan, India, and dates to the 19th century. Brass is an alloy of copper and zinc that casters can shape and spin into tall, narrow forms, and inscriptions are often added with a chisel or punch. Plain walls rise vertically to a broad rolled rim, with a stepped molding around the foot. The surface is a mellow brownish yellow, dulled by age and dotted with darker patches. No decoration interrupts the clean outline. It is 2.8 inches high and 3.25 in diameter.

No ornament, no excuses, just a very solid cylinder.