Collection: Urli Bowls & Decorative Centerpieces

An urli is the wide, shallow bowl used across South India to float flowers and lit diyas in water. It sits at the centre of a table or just inside a doorway, and the water is the point — it holds the petals up and doubles the candlelight. Twenty-nine pieces here, $25 to $470, in gold-finish iron, solid brass and antique silver.

Which one do you need

A nesting set of three — $70 to $80. The largest group here, and the sets differ by rim rather than by size. Lotus Petal and Diya have a fluted lamp-shaped rim. Cutout Lotus is pierced right through so light passes across the wall behind it. Hammered Lotus has a beaten surface. Sunflower comes in gold and in the only pink in the range. Om is ivory and gold with a teardrop rim, and carries no Om symbol — Om is the range name. Rose Rim is the compact set at 9.5 to 12.5 inches, which is the one for an apartment table. Sitting sets rest flat; standing sets are raised on stems.

A single bowl — $42 to $180. The Hammered Gold urli at $49 and the Hammered Rangoli at $42 are the least expensive way in. The Hammered Hanging urli drops on chains for an entrance. In solid brass, the Hammered Brass urli comes in 12 and 16 inch, and the Ganesha urli has a pierced Ganesha backplate.

Antique silver, hand-engraved — $110 to $470. Four bowls, and they are different objects rather than one shape scaled. The 7.5-inch floral cutout is pierced through with a separate inner bowl for the water. The 9-inch rose is shallow and wide. The 17-inch jungle bowl carries elephants, deer, a leopard and peacocks in raised repoussé. The 26-inch leaves bowl is the heavyweight with two cast side handles.

Diya stands and trays. The three-layer stand holds 30 tea lights at 24 inches; the two-layer holds 18 at table height, low enough to see over during dinner. The 18-inch Gold Lotus tray has 17 compartments, and the 13-piece Jumbo set builds a full centerpiece. Also here: the Chappan 56 Bhog thali, a set of five brass mini urlis for prasad, and Pichwai cow metal trays from $25.

Where these work

A dining or console centerpiece, an entrance floor beside the door, a mandir shelf, and haldi and mehndi function staging. Bought most for Diwali, Navratri, Ganesh Chaturthi, weddings and griha pravesh.