A Mughal Enamelled Lidded Goblet. Probably Kashmir, India. Circa 18th century.

This spectacular green and blue highly ornate enamelled goblet is an excellent example of North Indian enamel work, particularly that of the Kashmir region.

It consists of a raised chalice-like cup standing on a flaring base. It is surmounted by a pointed domical lid ending with a gadrooned finial. The body of the metal cup is decorated with festooned arcaded repeat patterns with floral and vegetal decorations both within and outside the arcaded patterns. The blue representing the Mughal garden scenes, while the green the architectural patterns forming the arcades.

The arcades are carried by stylized cypress trees typically found in Islamic gardens in both Mughal India as well as Andalusia. Above and below the arcaded decoration of the cup are wide horizontal bands of undulating vegetal enamelled motifs. The lid is ingeniously decorated in the same two colours forming interwoven green cypresses with blue crenellations. The flaring base is decorated with floral designs ending with raised petal-like motifs.