An early 20^th century Iraqi silver and niello covered sugar bowl, Basra or Omara circa 1930

Of oval panelled form upon a collet foot with wrought double C scrolls handles, the gently domed pull-off lid with an oval knop finial. The sides with niello decoration of a steam train on The Baghdad Railway Bridge at Jerablus, flanked by a scene of a boatman in a Gufa, and two dhow sailing boats, the opposing side with the Tomb of Ezra flanked by scenes of two camels with a walker and of a dhow sailing boat, all below a segmented band. The lid with two sprays of foliage. Unsigned. Together with an associated pair of sugar tongs, nielloed with a gufa and a camel amidst dense flower heads, the arch with an oval cartouche nielloed with "Mr Mustafa" in Arabic script. (2)

Length – 19 cm / 7.5 inches

Weight – 510 grams / 16.4 ozt