A late 19^th century Anglo – Indian silver claret jug, Madras circa 1880 by Peter Orr and Sons

Raj period. Of inverted baluster form with a waisted neck, the curved a handled chased as a cobra leading to a hinged domed lid of conforming shape surmounted by a detachable figure of a snake charmer, playing a pungi, a flute-like instrument made from a gourd (retaining nut present but detached). The body with an embossed central band of Swami pattern of nine figures of gods upon their vehicles; Kalki upon a horse, Indra upon an Elephant, Parvati upon a lion, Durga upon a tiger, Nirrti upon a man, Shiva upon Nandi the bull, Karktikeya upon a peacock, and Brama upon a hamsa duck, all within shaped vignettes reserved with flat chased arabesques and foliate scrolls, all between bands of stylised lotus sepal leaves. Gilt interior. Stamped underneath P ORR & SONS MADRAS.

Height – 27 cm / 10.6 inches

Weight – 695 grams / 22.34 ozt

A Madras jug of the same form dated 1880 by Peter Orr and Sons is illustrated Wilkinson, W., (1999)., Indian Silver 1858-1947: Decorative Silver from the Indian Sub-Continent and Burma Made by Local Craftsmen in Western Forms. London, Wynyard R T Wilkinson, p. 156, fig. 249.

A Bangalore version of this jug marked for A. Bhicajee and Co of Bombay was sold these rooms, 14 Feb 2023, lot 50 (£5000 inc. prem).