A very rare late 19^th century Anglo – Indian silver three-piece tea service, Lucknow circa 1890

Raj period. In ‘Sikh Vignette pattern’, comprising a teapot, a milk jug and a twin handled sugar bowl. Each with embossed decoration of rows of vignettes formed as lotus sepals, each interspersed with chased rosettes. Each vignette embossed with the bust of a Sikh man, representing Royalty and military heroes. Each of tapering truncated conical form, the teapot with a curved spout opposite a cobra serpent handle, leading to a hinged domed lid surmounted by a finial of a caparisoned elephant statant, upon two chased fish. The underside of the sugar bowl chased with a symbol of a peacock with wings closed. (3)

Teapot length – 19.5 cm / 7.7 inches

Weight – 1072 grams / 34.47 ozt

This rare and unusual pattern is demonstrated by a similarly formed teapot, with the finial formed like the vignettes, 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. 137.