Radha Krishna Thali - 01

This brass betel leaf shaped platter or thali from Gujarat has been made with repousse, chasing and engraving techniques. It shows Radha and Krishna in the centre, surrounded by horses, peacocks, elephants, deer, a lion, a camel, a bison and a wolf. The concave sides have openwork panels.
Krishna is the god of compassion, tenderness and love, and is one of the most popular and widely revered among Indian divinities. Radha is Krishna’s most prominent wife, and her selfless love of Krishna is admired by devotees.
This thali or platter may have been used to serve paan. The history of chewing paan dates back about 2500 years. The beautifully crafted accessories associated with chewing paan elevated it to a level of ceremony, much like the Japanese and the art of drinking tea.