Vintage Indian Brass Lota Water Pot Vase with Turned Rings

This handsome brass water pot has the generous, rounded belly and narrow neck of a traditional Indian lota, finished with a wide flared lip and encircled by fine turned rings that catch the light as you move around it. It is properly heavy too, with a reassuring weight that tells you it was made to be used, not just admired.

The lota has been part of daily life in India for centuries, used to carry, pour and store water, and often to hold offerings in ceremonies and festivals. Brass and copper were favoured because they were believed to keep water clean and fresh, and many families kept and passed down their pots for generations. Underneath, the base has developed a soft blue green patina, and the brass across the body has mellowed to a warm, uneven gold with darker tones in places, the natural signs of a pot that has been handled and loved over many years.

It measures 25 x 19 cm, a good size to stand alone on a sideboard, console or hearth, where it has real presence without overwhelming the space.

The narrow neck makes it ideal for flowers that like a little support: dried hydrangeas, as in our photographs, look wonderful, as do branches of autumn leaves, pussy willow or a few stems of eucalyptus. Group it with stoneware, shells and natural textures for a relaxed, collected look, or let it stand on its own on a deep windowsill where the brass can glow in the evening light. It sits particularly well against plaster pinks, ochres and warm whites, and would make a lovely housewarming gift for anyone who loves global or well travelled interiors.

We’d suggest leaving the patina as it is. Polishing would take decades off it, and we’d rather it kept every one.