Gandaberunda Thali on Four Legs

This is a brass thali or platter from Mysore sitting on four legs, made using the techniques of repousse and engraving. In the centre is a stylised flower, and around this is engraved the Gandaberunda and the Mysore Coat of Arms, with a fluted border around the edge. This platter would have been used to serve fruits or paan.
The Gandaberunda or Bheruṇḍa is a two-headed bird in Hindu mythology, believed to possess immense magical strength. It was the emblem of the erstwhile Kingdom of Mysore under the Wodeyar kings, and after India attained independence, it was retained by Mysore State as its emblem. That state was enlarged in 1956 and renamed Karnataka in 1973, and the Gandaberunda continues to be the official state emblem of Karnataka.