Featured Old Indian(?) silver bowl

A late discovery from the hoard, it was so dirty and patchily tarnished that it looked as if it was worn off plating showing brass. It appeared to have been used for ages as a plant pot holder, the inside was crusted with dirt over tarnish and is still in need of some heavy duty polishing inside.

It looked so worthless I almost left it for the clearers and only threw it in the loot at the last minute. Yesterday I decided to see what was underneath, (sorry I did not do a before picture), and the brassy looking patches soon vanished.

I used the washing soda and aluminium foil method to do the initial clean followed by Silvo silver polish and lots of rubbing.

I could see from the wear on the raised or chased decoration that any plating would have worn through ages ago, so it was solid, although since there are no marks, the purity is anyone's guess. My feeling is that it is a reasonably high grade, but that may just be wishful thinking.

There are signs of an old repair on both sides where it seems a pair of handles was removed and the holes sealed.

I am guessing that it is Indian or Persian, possibly 19th C and it weighs half a kilo, about a pound.

I will probably keep it and promote it from flowerpot holder to small fruit bowl, maybe specialising in grapes with a plum or three....










There is no actual damage, the reflections are a bit misleading.

 

The hoard that keeps giving... I like this.

 

Well done ! Id have never given it a second look.

 

!!!!