id:			387677
accession number:	2020.205
share license status:	CC0
url:			https://clevelandart.org/art/2020.205
updated:		2022-02-07 23:28:02.284000

Bidri Basin, c. 1650. Southwestern India, Deccan, Karnataka, Bidar​. Zinc alloy with silver and brass inlay; diameter: 34.5 cm (13 9/16 in.); height: 17 cm (6 11/16 in.). The Cleveland Museum of Art, Severance and Greta Millikin Purchase Fund 2020.205

title:				Bidri Basin
title in original language:	
series:				
series in original language:	
creation date:			c. 1650
creation date earliest:		1640
creation date latest:		1660
current location:		
creditline:			Severance and Greta Millikin Purchase Fund
copyright:			

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culture:	Southwestern India, Deccan, Karnataka, Bidar​
technique:	Zinc alloy with silver and brass inlay
department:	Indian and Southeast Asian Art
collection:	Indian Art
type:		Metalwork
find spot:	
catalogue raisonne: 

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CREATORS

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measurements: Diameter: 34.5 cm (13 9/16 in.); height: 17 cm (6 11/16 in.)
state of the work:	
edition of the work: 	

support materials:


inscriptions:

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CURRENT EXHIBITIONS

	title:		Life and Exploits of Krishna in Indian Paintings (Indian art rotation)
	opening date:   2021-09-01T04:00:00
	<i>Life and Exploits of Krishna in Indian Paintings (Indian art rotation)</i>. The Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland, OH (organizer) (September 1, 2021-February 6, 2022).

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LEGACY EXHIBITIONS

* <em>Sultans of Deccan India, 1500-1700: Opulence and Fantasy</em>. The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY (April 20-July 26, 2015).

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PROVENANCE

	Dr. Mark Zebrowski [1945-1999], London, UK, by descent to his partner John Robert Alderman
	date: 1968-1999
	footnotes: 	
	citations: 	


	(John Robert Alderman, London, UK, consigned to Francesca Galloway, Ltd. for sale)
	date: 1999-
	footnotes: 	
	citations: 	


	(Francesca Galloway, Ltd., London, UK, sold to the Cleveland Museum of Art)
	date: 2020
	footnotes: 	
	citations: 	


	The Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland, OH
	date: 2020-
	footnotes: 	
	citations: 	


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fun fact: 
Zinc alloy does not rust or corrode, in contrast to steel or copper alloys.

digital description: 
Wide-rimmed basins called <em>sailabchi</em> were used to catch water poured from a pitcher during hand washing before prayer and before and after meals. A sumptuous example such as this was made for an elite setting. Every element of the allover floral arabesque was cut from silver and brass sheets or wire and hammered into the cast zinc alloy vessel in a distinctive technique developed in southern India.

wall description: 
Wide-rimmed basins were used to catch water poured from a pitcher during hand washing before prayer, as well as prior to and following a meal.
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RELATED WORKS

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CITATIONS

	Gray, Basil, editor. <em>The Arts of India</em>. Oxford: Phaidon, 1981.
	page number: 	Reproduced: fig. 206
	url:		

	Zebrowski, Mark. "Bidri: Metalware from the Islamic Courts of India," in <em>Art East</em>. London, England: Hali Publications, 1982.
	page number: 	Reproduced: p. 28
	url:		

	Zebrowski, Mark. <em>Gold, Silver &amp; Bronze from Mughal India</em>. London: Alexandria Press in association with Laurence King, 1997.
	page number: 	pp. 170–71
	url:		

	Haidar, Navina Najat, and Marika Sardar. <em>Sultans of Deccan India, 1500-1700: Opulence and Fantasy</em>. New York, NY: The Metropolitan Museum of Art, 2015.
	page number: 	Reproduced: cat. no. 95, p. 193
	url:		

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IMAGES

web:	https://openaccess-cdn.clevelandart.org/2020.205/2020.205_web.jpg
print:	https://openaccess-cdn.clevelandart.org/2020.205/2020.205_print.jpg
full:	https://openaccess-cdn.clevelandart.org/2020.205/2020.205_full.tif