Brass Foot Scrubber (Vajri) Maharashtra or Karnataka, India 19th-early 20th centuries

foot scrubber (vajri) comes from southern India and dates to the early 20th century. vajri is of cast brass and comprises a pedestal with perforated lattice work and a rough, scored base, that is surmounted by a decorative cast figure.  Typically they were used by women when bathing to scrub the feet, something made necessary as most users did not wear shoes.Small pebbles or rocks are contained within the bases of most of the scrubbers. Bathing often occurred in a public space, perhaps a stream or river. When the scrubber was being used, the small pebbles jingled, perhaps to warn off others in the vicinity that women were bathing nearby.

hight is 11.5cm base diam 5.5cm