The Harish K. Patel Collection at the Birmingham Museum of Art
A dazzling testament to Southern Asian silver indaily use.

Silver elevates use, not onlyfor the diverse religious rituals of Southern Asia, but also consumption of andaccess to once-new items: photographs, mirrors, railways, and automobiles;newly invented or traded foods including tea, coffee, Indian pale ale, wines, dairyproducts, relishes, fruits and seasonings. Many of these items originated inSouthern Asia and were among the first tinned or bottled items to circulate inglobal markets.

A discussion of Southern Asiansilver's artistry, functionality and cultural and economic soft power isaccompanied by a spectacular array of 130 suites of silver and 22 designdrawings.