A late 19^th century Anglo – Indian unmarked silver bowl, Poona circa 1890

Raj period. Of gently compressed circular form with a fold over rim. The body with embossed decoration of various figural scenes, one of Lakshmi the consort of Vishnu, upon a lotus with an elephant behind her, another with Saraswati depicted playing the veena, each panel interspersed by a tall flowering shrub growing from a pot, each with a monkey within it with exposed genitalia. All between two bands of training foliage edged with beading. The underside chased with a rosette mandala.

Diameter – 21.5 cm / 8.5 inches

Height – 15.9 cm / 6.25 inches

Weight – 1119 grams / 35.98 ozt

The complex interweaving of styles and forms found throughout Indian silver is perhaps least understood from the wares made in Poona. The form of this bowl with its distinct fold over rim is precisely that associated with Lucknow in the North of India, where there are intimations of Burmese patterns as well as figural hunting patterns. However, there are a small group of bowls including this example which are somewhat less convex, use foliate type borders (as one might expect of the Cutch area) and have a schema of decoration, including Burmese style, oheld below a continues band of shaped arches or withing vignettes, sometimes incorporating fan-like motifs no doubt inspired by fabric hangings. The attribution to Poona is based on presently unpublished research.

For an example with similar trailing foliate band and scenes from the Ramayana, sold these rooms, 14 Feb 2023, lot 176 (£1375 incl. prem)

For an example, incorporating fan-like motifs, sold these rooms 22 June 2022, lot 115 (£1,125 incl. prem)

For an example now understood to be Poona, in hunting pattern, sold these rooms 31 March 2021, lot 170 (£1,875 incl. prem)

For another example dated 1896, offered these rooms, 3 March 2022, lot 85