BIRMINGHAM.- The Birmingham Museum of Art announced the opening of Silver & Ceremony from Southern Asia, 1830–1930, an exhibition featuring the collection of Harish K. Patel. On view from June 21 to November 30, 2025, this exhibition explores how silver served as both a decorative art and a catalyst for cultural transformation during a period of rapid global change.


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"We are thrilled to present this dazzling exhibition, which celebrates the exquisite craftsmanship of southern Asian silver and tells a broader story of innovation, cultural exchange, and social transformation," said Katherine Paul, The Virginia and William M. Spencer III Curator of Asian Art. "Visitors will experience firsthand how people’s love of silver has been harnessed to promote many aspects of humanity’s aspirations and accomplishments through a southern Asian artistic lens."


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Between the 1830s and 1930s, silver from southern Asia not only reflected the era’s technological advancements—such as the advent of railways, steamships, and automobiles—but also celebrated innovations that reshaped everyday life. Photography, mass printing, and advertising transformed perceptions of self and society, while revolutionary changes in food production and distribution introduced new culinary habits. During this period, industrialized canning, bottling, and shipping began to preserve and distribute food on a global scale, with silver serving as the medium that plated the food, promoted its use, and signified elevated social status.

The exhibition is organized around four compelling themes that reveal silver’s multifaceted role in society. One theme highlights silver’s integral contribution to religious arts, with objects crafted in service to Hindu, Buddhist, Zoroastrian, Jewish, Christian, and Islamic traditions.

Another theme delves into the sensorial arts, celebrating silver’s impact on the sense —from mirrors and photographic elements that engage sight, to containers that evoke enticing aromas and tactile experiences, as well as elaborately plated items that enhance taste. A further focus is placed on aspirational arts, where silver objects such as awards and trophies exemplify social prestige. Finally, the exhibition examines revivalism in silver arts, illustrating how earlier styles from distant parts of the globe became the retro trends of the late-nineteenth and early-twentieth centuries. Select set pieces will feature luxurious, uniquely draped saris that emphasize regional identity and the functionality of silver. In addition, elegant settings for drinking and dining will showcase treasures from the Museum’s renowned decorative arts collections, including furniture, wall hangings, and paintings.

The exhibition and publication showcases a significant gift from collector Harish K. Patel. “Some people have asked me why I am giving my collection to the Birmingham Museum of Art in Alabama and not to India,” says Patel. “The answer is that I believe collections like this serve as an Indian cultural ambassador to the US. Giving the United States exposure to Indian design and art can lead to cross-cultural understanding and, I hope, fewer problems in the world.”



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