A Mughal bronze jar (lota), India, 16th-17th century

of squat globular form with a splayed foot, the broad shallow neck with a flattened everted neck, the chased decoration composed of three lobed cartouches, two with pairs of birds, one with a single leonine beast on a ground of fleshy foliage and below a band of interlacing split palmettes on a hatched ground, two pairs of lines around the base of the body, another pair above the foot

surface patination, overall good condition, 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 sparse decoration of chased cusped cartouches is reminiscent of a Timurid tradition, displayed to its best on a candlestick in the David Collection, Copenhagen (Lentz & Lowry 1989, p.223, cat. no.122). However, the contents of the cartouches on this lota have taken on a distinctly Indian character, notably in the pairs of birds that are depicted in a less heraldic and more romantic manner on plump and abundant flowers and foliage. The form is a distinctly Indian one with ancient origins with examples known from as early as the second or first century B.C. (Zebrowski 1997, p.208, no.321). The shape changes little over thousands of years and remains in use today for the carrying of water and on a smaller scale for ritual use (op. cit., p.212).