AN IMPRESSIVE PARCEL-GILT SILVER CEREMONIAL MACE (SOONTA) Deccan or North India, 19th century  Of tapering cylindrical shape, the top finial naturalistically designed as a large elephant head, the trunk curled and holding a vegetal bunch, either a stylised fruit or a flower, the eyes and forehead encrusted with garnets, the central shaft densely decorated with spiralling ribs design alternated with scrolling floral motifs and lush palmette bands, the bottom finial in the shape of a ram head, 61.5cm high.  As Terlinden explains soontas or maces of office were yet another item typically used in the universe of Indian ceremonial regalia. Normally carried in pairs by officially appointed bearers (soonta berdar), they always preceded the person whose rank they denoted (Christiane Terlinden Serra, Mughal Silver Magnificence 16th - 19th century, Brussels, 1987, p. 64). An almost identical mace was successfully sold at Christie's London, 25 May 2017, lot 106.