Round trays with a large ornament were very popular in Dagestan and used in almost every household. Trays could be hammered or chased. In the former case, artisans hammered relief patterns on a metal plate using an embossing punch. In the latter, the pattern was chased on the metal surface with cutting punches, the tools resembling large nails. The chased ornament had a low relief but, as a rule, more intricate ornamental motifs. 

Ritual trays with a large ornament, similar to the one in the museum’s collection were used in the ceremony of marriage brokerage and bridal processions. They were also used to decorate walls in the so-called kunak room, which was the central room in the house. The repoussé décor of such trays was composed of all manner of patterns of petals, festoons and dots. 

The ornament in these items is composed of floral motifs and rhythmically repeated paisley patterns. Floral patterns may sometimes be interwoven with the Arabic script. As Dagestan artisans had to be in keeping with the traditions of the places where they worked or peddled their wares, their copper utensils had many specimens manufactured in the Azerbaijan tradition.