Thanjavur Art Plate

The Thanjavur Art Plate is an ornate decorative plate that combines three metals, silver, brass and copper, into a single richly embossed showpiece, a signature metal craft of Thanjavur. Silver and copper figures of gods, dancers, peacocks and floral motifs are individually embossed and then mounted onto a brass or copper base, so the contrasting colours of the metals highlight the raised designs. The craft was patronised by the Maratha court of Thanjavur and grew alongside the region's temple metal-working traditions. Skilled artisans hammer, chase and fix each element by hand, making every plate a labour-intensive work of art used as a memento, award or display piece. The craft sustains families of metalworkers in Thanjavur and remains a prized emblem of the town's artistic legacy.