Century-Old Gadrooned Hourglass Brass Bedside Spittoon (Pikadani)

Stately and authentic century-old traditional bedside spittoon (known in Odia and Eastern Indian heritage as Pikadani, Pikadana, or Pana Phika Dani), cast circa late 19th to early 20th century in solid heavy brass. Designed with a classical architectural hourglass silhouette, the vessel features an expansive dished funnel rim engineered to receive chewed betel juice (paan pika) without splashing, transitioning through an elegant concave neck toward a defined ring-turned waist flanked by dual horizontal astragal moldings. Both the lower cup hemisphere and the flared bell-shaped pedestal foot are exquisitely ornamented with hand-chased diagonal spiral rope-twist (gadrooned) relief friezes, providing rhythmic tactile contour and structural strength. Positioned traditionally beside the family bed (khatia / charpoy) or aristocratic salon divan (baithak) during evening gatherings, this vessel is an iconic survivor of bygone domestic etiquette and leisurely paan-serving culture. Preserved in untouched museum-grade antique condition, it features a deeply aged dark charcoal-olive surface with authentic subtle mineral encrustations and historic domestic handling wear.