Indian Cooking Vessel with Ring Handles

Every inch of it has been hit with a hammer. On purpose.

This cooking vessel with ring handles comes from Rajasthan, India, and dates to the 19th century. It is copper. Large copper pots have long served Indian kitchens that cook for a crowd, from households to festivals. The rounded body is covered in close, regular hammer marks that catch the light in dark red and brown. A wide flared rim is stepped and worked in the same way. Curled handles, fixed with flower-shaped mounts, each carry a loose ring. Greenish patches mark the interior. It stands 10.25 inches high and spans 21.5 across.

Two rings suggest two people. Soup this size is a joint venture.