Calcutta circa 1860 by Hamilton and Co
A mid-19th century Indian colonial cast silver table snuff box

Of rectangular form with rounded corners and a hinged lid. The lid with a cast relief scene of bacchanalian cherubs drinking wine atop of a barrel with a vitus in the background, framed within fruiting vine with musical and theatrical trophies. The sides with theatrical masks to the corners reserved with C scrolls and fruiting vine withy roses against a textured ground. Gilt interior. Marked underneath H&Co, Elephant, Roman capital A, and a tally mark, also stamped HAMILTON & CO JEWELLERS CALCUTTA.

Length – 13.8 cm / 5.45 inches

Weight – 467 grams / 15.01 ozt

The scene on the lid is likely inspired from a print source based upon the work of Marten Jozef Geeraerts (1707-1791), whose trompe-l'œil oil paintings regularly involved putto such as one with a very similar scene to that on this box sold Venduehuis der Notarissen 24 May 2023, lot 126.