An early 20th century Anglo – Indian unmarked silver bowl, Bangalore circa 1910

An early 20^th century Anglo – Indian unmarked silver bowl, Bangalore circa 1910

Raj period. Of rounded circular form raised upon four cast figural feet formed as yogi, the handles formed as cast and textured elephants heads with upturned trunks. The body with embossed band in the swami style of gods upon their vahana, Indra upon an Elephant, Durga upon a tiger, Chandra upon an antelope, Ganesha uncharacteristically upon a dog, Karktikeya upon a peacock, and Brama upon a hamsa duck, all against a textured ground within chased scrolls and anthemia. The lower section with embossed anthemia. Gilt interior. The underside of bowl satinised.

Length – 27.5 cm / 10.5 inches

Height – 14.9 cm / 5.85 inches

Weight – 846 grams / 27.2 ozt

The firm of Krishnan Chetty was the most productive in Bangalore, and is in all likelihood responsible for producing this bowl. They supplied Bombay retails such as Tarachand Pursram Ramswam.

Satinised plain areas are a distinctive characteristic of Bangalore made silverware, this decorative technique is particularly susceptible to wearing away.

Wilkinson notes that “[t]he silversmiths of Bangalore produced fine quality work particularly in Swami and in a jungle pattern showing wild animals in a frieze.” 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. 165.