Cup; Persia or India, 19th century.

Cup; Persia or India, XIX century.
Gilded bronze.
It shows wear.
Measurements: 17 x 15,5 x 15,5 cm.
This cup reflects the continuity of the refined metallurgical and ornamental traditions developed in the Islamic and South Asian spheres. Its elegant flared shape on a raised foot corresponds to models destined for both ceremonial and domestic use, and the surface is profusely decorated with vegetal motifs and engraved and chiseled arabesques, organized in horizontal registers that run along the body and base of the piece. These ornamental compositions, characterized by undulating stems, stylized flowers and symmetrical rhythms, refer to decorative repertoires widespread in Persian and Mughal Islamic art, where vegetal representation symbolized abundance, harmony and aesthetic sophistication.
The gilt finish suggests the use of gilding techniques on bronze to imitate the appearance of precious metals, a frequent resource in specialized workshops of the 18th and 19th centuries. This type of object was appreciated for its functional value as much as for its ornamental richness, and was part of the sumptuous furnishings present in palaces, aristocratic houses and ceremonial spaces.