Antique retailer Folk Art Painted Bowl

Large and unusual retailer wooden bowl, painted and decorated with traditional Rajasthani motifs. Colourful painting on wooden furniture has a long history in Rajasthan and larger pieces such as marriage chests and cabinets are often found with these designs. The underside of the bowl has a carved hexafoil, used in some countries as an apotropaic (or witch) mark to ward off evil. They are found marked on timber in houses across England but also in Finland ( https://www.academia.edu/32506183/Hidden_Charms_Proceedings). The fact that this is on the underside of the bowl might suggest it is intended as a protection against evil.


The bowl measures approx 35 x 9 x 35 cm. There are a couple of historic worm holes (on the back - pictured) but the bowl has been treated again just in case.