Antique 19thC Indo Persian Koftgari Steel Vase 15" True Silver Inlay XRF Tested For Sale

# Antique 19thC Indo Persian Koftgari Steel Vase 15" True Silver Inlay XRF Tested

## Item Description

Up for sale is a magnificent, gallery grade **19th-Century Antique Indo-Persian Koftgari (Damascene) Steel Vase**. Standing a commanding **15 inches tall** and weighing a substantial, heavy-gauge **4¾ pounds**, this exceptional vessel is a masterclass in old-world blacksmithing and precious metalwork.

The entire exterior is elaborately chased and hand-decorated with dense horizontal friezes of traditional Islamic arabesques, multi-tiered floral medallions, and stylized pseudo-calligraphic block characters mimicking early medieval script. After a century of handling, a gentle, dry museum-safe microfiber buff has brought back a spectacular, crisp metallic gleam to the hand-laid silver work, beautifully contrasting against the deep, dark historically blued steel matrix.

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## 🔬 Indisputable Scientific Proof (SciAps XRF Tested)

Unlike the flooded market of cheap mid-century tourist reproductions made of thin, lightweight cast zinc or chemical-wash brass, **this item has been scientifically authenticated using a professional SciAps XRF Analyzer gun.**

The non-destructive diagnostic x-ray beam penetrates past the surface patina, locking down a composite reading that completely verifies its luxury antique construction:

* **Structural Base:** Registers a massive **81.79% to 96.79% Genuine Hand-Forged Iron/Steel (Fe)**.

* **Precious Metal Overlay:** Confirms heavy, thick veins of **True Precious Silver (Ag) wire inlay hitting up to 17.81% concentration** inside the deep chiseled grooves. This mathematically rules out paper-thin electroplating or silver paint washes.

* **Historical Timeline Markers:** The analyzer caught organic trace signatures of **Manganese (Mn)** and **Copper (Cu)**—the unique metallurgical fingerprint of pre-industrial charcoal smelting and traditional furnace-brazing assembly methods.

*(Please review the listing photos to view the live diagnostic screenshots directly on the analyzer screen. Full video recording of the blank-screen initialization, tone, and real-time reading output is archived and available to serious buyers upon request).*

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## 🎨 The Evidence of True Hand Craftsmanship

### 📐 The Natural Forge Slant

When resting flat on its flared pedestal foot, the upper body features a distinct, intentional **structural slant**. In 19th-century blacksmithing, manually drawing a heavy 4¾ lb block of weapon-grade steel over a tapered iron anvil stake (mandrel) created natural, organic balance variations. To accommodate this visual tilt, the master craftsman carefully offset the weight distribution during the hot-crimping process. The vase stands completely rock-solid and secure—the lean is the ultimate hand-beaten fingerprint prized by antiquity collectors. The interior features the corresponding concentric rotation tracks wrapping around the throat.

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---An old, partially preserved handwritten inventory/import label remains adhered to the underside of the base. The tag appears fibrous and heavily aged, but its exact material and markings have not been independently identified. It has been left untouched because it may provide useful provenance or collection information.

## Condition Report

Excellent, honest antique condition with a stunning, age-earned natural dark patina. The silver wire inlay remains firmly structurally locked into its hand-chiseled cross-hatched "teeth" with beautifully clear contours. Safe, light conservation has been performed exclusively with rubbing alcohol and dry microfiber. The interior bottom contains original, untouched calcified organic residue and forge scale, functioning as an environmental seal over the last century. No structural compromises or modern repairs.