9-Inches Rose Engraved Bowl - Antique Silver Urli

An urli is a wide Indian bowl filled with water so that flower heads and floating diyas sit on the surface. This one is the shallow, wide member of our antique-silver range: 9 inches across but only 3.5 inches deep, with a scalloped rim, floral panels worked in relief around the outside, and four clawed feet that lift it clear of the table.

Product details

• Diameter: 9 inches
• Height: 3.5 inches
• Weight: approx. 820 g (1.8 lb)
• Material: copper, nickel-plated and oxidised to an antique silver finish
• Rim: sixteen-lobe scalloped edge
• Feet: four applied clawed feet
• Handmade in India
• Sold as a single bowl

Why this one

• Shallow and wide, which is the harder shape to find. Most small urlis are deep pots. This one spreads the water out, so five or six flower heads float without crowding each other and you look down onto them rather than into a well.
• The rim is scalloped, not round. Sixteen lobes, each holding a floral panel raised out of the metal rather than scratched into it.
• Clawed feet. Cast separately and applied, they raise the bowl about half an inch so the base stays dry and the shadow line sits under it.
• Etched centre. The inside is hammered smooth with a starburst worked into the base, which you see through the water.
• Copper underneath. The body is copper — the metal used for kalash and pooja vessels — nickel-plated and then oxidised, which is what gives the antique silver its depth in the recesses rather than a flat grey.

Which one do I need

Five antique-silver bowls, five different jobs. The others in the range:

• 7.5-inch cutout bowl — deep, pierced sides, $110
• 13.5-inch elephant bowl — low, elephants in relief, small feet, $220
• 17-inch jungle bowl — deep, animals in relief, $350
• 26-inch leaf bowl — largest, side handles, $470

Where it works

• A dining table centrepiece, low enough to talk across
• A mandir shelf, holding a small idol — it is the right width to seat a Laddu Gopal or a palm-sized murti
• An entryway console with floating candles for Diwali
• A haldi or kumkum tray for a ceremony
• A dresser, holding rings and small jewellery

Gifting

This is the size people buy when they want one good piece rather than a set — substantial enough to be a proper gift, small enough that the recipient will actually find a place for it. It suits housewarming and griha pravesh, Diwali, Varalakshmi Vratam and wedding gifting. If you are buying several for an event, get in touch before ordering.

Frequently asked questions

How deep is it?
3.5 inches, and that is the point of this one. It is a dish rather than a pot. If you want depth, the 7.5-inch cutout bowl is 4 inches tall in a smaller footprint, and the 17-inch is deeper again.

Will a small idol sit in it?
Yes. At 9 inches across with a flat inner base it seats a Laddu Gopal or a small murti comfortably, which is how several customers use it.

Can I fill it with water?
Yes. Fill it, float flower heads or floating candles, and empty and dry it the same evening. Standing water left in a plated bowl for days will mark the finish.

How many flowers does it hold?
Five or six full rose or marigold heads floating, or a dozen loose petals with two floating candles.

Are the feet attached or part of the bowl?
Cast separately and joined. They are solid and not decorative-only, but do not carry the bowl by one foot when it is full.

Is this German silver?
Not literally, and we would rather say so plainly. German silver — also sold as nickel silver — is a copper, nickel and zinc alloy that contains no silver in it at all. This bowl is copper, nickel-plated and then oxidised so the darkening settles into the recesses of the pattern. A lot of this category gets sold as German silver regardless of what is actually underneath, so it is worth knowing which you are buying.

How do I clean it?
Wipe with a soft dry cloth. Do not put it in the dishwasher and do not use abrasive scourers or acidic cleaners — they will cut through the plating. Between uses, store it in a sealed plastic bag; that slows tarnishing more than anything else you can do.

Will it tarnish?
Silver plating darkens over time, and the antique finish is designed to sit in the recesses and deepen the pattern as it does. That is the intended look. If you want it brighter, a light buff with a dry cloth on the raised areas will lift it.

Is the pattern engraved or raised?
Raised. The floral panels are worked out from behind, so they stand proud of the surface and you can feel them.

Can I order several for an event?
Yes — get in touch before you order if you need more than a few. We can usually help on price for larger quantities and confirm stock before you commit to a date.

What if it arrives damaged?
Every order is insured. Photograph the box and the piece and contact us, and we will sort out a replacement or a refund.

Shipping

Free insured shipping across the USA and Canada. Ships from San Ramon, California, usually within one business day.

Browse the full Urli Bowls & Centerpieces collection, or the rest of the Antique Silver range.