Vintage 1940s Benares Hand-Chased Heavy Gauge Brass Valet Tray For Sale

An exquisite mid-century vintage Indian brass oval tray, hand-crafted in the historic metalworking center of Benares (Varanasi). This heavy, solid brass piece showcases masterful hand-chased and hand-repoussé workmanship , An all-over hand-chased design of blooming lotuses alternating with a charming decorative band of alert, running deer (or gazelles) nestled into continuous foliate scrollsCraftsmanship Details: The tray exhibits a high-relief central medallion framed by thousands of intricate, manually stippled background punch marks that create a rich, tactile depth. The perimeter is finished with a charmingly irregular, hand-crimped scalloped rim. The reverse side beautifully reveals the authentic, bumpy dimples and tool impressions left behind by the artisan's hammer—definitive proof of true artisanal creation rather than modern machine stamping.10ʺW × 12ʺD × 0.5ʺH

---