Lot 432: A Large South Indian Hammered Brass Footed Cauldron 42x36cm

A large South Indian cauldron or ceremonial basin constructed from a heavy gauge brass or bronze alloy. The vessel is of traditional form, featuring a hand-hammered bulbous body with visible surface undulations and a flared rim. The rim is embellished with an applied decorative band featuring a chased repeating foliate scrolling pattern. It is raised on a separate pedestal foot with a tiered profile. Two circular ring handles are mounted to the sides, held by heart-shaped escutcheons. These plates are decorated with chased motifs of addorsed birds and are secured to the body with three large, hand-hammered copper rivets each. The exterior surfaces have an aged dark brown patina. The side of the body bears a faint, hand-written inscription in dark cursive script that appears to read haui mistu; this marking is not clearly legible as a formal maker’s mark and likely represents a later inventory or provenance notation. The interior base shows areas of exposed yellow metal beneath significant pale-green verdigris and mineral deposits.