A rare early 20th century Anglo – Indian silver teapot, Cutch, Bhuj circa 1910 by Oomersi Mawji jnr (active 1890-1930)
A private London collection of Indian silver

A rare early 20^th century Anglo – Indian silver teapot, Cutch, Bhuj circa 1910 by Oomersi Mawji jnr (active 1890-1930)

Raj period. Of spherical form upon four scroll feet, the curved spout opposite a C scroll handle fitted with ivory insulators pinned to scroll sockets. The hinged domed lid surmounted by a detachable cast finial of parrot feeding upon a mango with floral calyx. The body with an oval cartouche to each side chased with a god upon their vehicle (vahana) as Kama on her parrot or Kartikeya upon a peacock to each side, otherwise with chased foliate scrolls and rosettes populated with birds, the same to the spout and the handle. Marked underneath with O.M, and BHUJ, incuse.

Length – 22.6 cm / 9 inches

Weight – 754 grams / 24.24 ozt

It is most unusual to find the gods and their vahana upon Cutch silver work, as this is most famously a decorative scheme found on Madras silverware as swami pattern.

A slightly later milk jug by the Mawji workshop has one side embossed with a praying yogi man upon a chased tiger skin rug all beneath a tree, the opposing side with a Vishnu as Kalki, feeding a horse beneath a parasol, holding a sword, a lotus flower, and a mace at his feet, sold Bonham’s Knightsbridge, 28 July 2021, lot 230 (£2,167.50 incl. prem).

Ivory registration: VNYFHDLK