A Deccani gold-inlaid silver container, India, circa 1600

in two hinged parts each of deep oval form with a floral form fastening, with chased and inlaid decoration of scrolling arabesques populated with beast heads and birds on a ground of naturalistic floral designs, the upper surface with an oval of beast head within split palmettes reserved on a gold ground, the base with a flower head within split palmettes similarly applied

minor surface abrasions, rubbing, loss to inlay, areas of patination, as viewed
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

The populated arabesques of this piece are reminiscent of Deccani illumination of this period, in particular the work of Golconda. The appearance of beasts' heads brings to mind the contemporary Indian carpets with fantastic animals incorporated into a scrolling arabesque. A carpet, of which fragments survive in Paris and Hanover, illustrates this tradition well and includes a decorative device found on this container: using the beast's head as a nexus for the scroll work (London 1982, p.74, no.193).

The container's metalwork antecedents may well be in some of the small intricate objects, mostly inkwells, that were produced in the later 15th century under Timurid patronage (Komaroff 1992, p.135, nos.54 -56). Most pertinent to this container is the inkwell in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, which also employs a design of formal scrolls populated with beasts on a background of floral motifs. The inlay of gold into silver is highly unusual for metalwork in this period and taking this with the high quality of the workmanship it seems likely that this container was a courtly object.