A rare early 20^th century Anglo – Indian silver teapot, Karachi circa 1920, marked LM (untraced)

Raj period. Of compressed circular form upon a circular foot, the curved spout opposite a C scroll handle, the terminal modelled as a parrot’s head, fitted with ivory insulators. The everted shaped rim with a hinged domed lid surmounted by a finial of a caparisoned finial statant. The body with finely chased decoration in hunting pattern, with a continuous frieze of a lion attaching an elephant, a lion attacking a gazelle, a lion attacking a water buffalo, and to the other side similar scenes but with a wild dog as the assailant. All below a band of Cutch type foliate scrolls and rosettes, repeated to the lid, the underside of the frieze and foot with bands of stylised acanthus leaves. The underside of the spout with a scene between and elephant and a lion. Marked underneath with LM and T90.

Length – 24 cm / 9.5 inches

Weight – 659 grams / 21.19 ozt

Ivory declaration: S1923BLJ