A late 19th century Anglo – Indian silver claret jug or ewer, Bangalore circa 1890 retailed by A. Bhicajee and Co of Bombay

Raj period. Of inverted baluster form with a waisted neck, the curved a handled chased as a cobra leading to a hinged domed lid of conforming shape surmounted by a figure of a snake charmer. The body with a central band of Swami pattern with nine gods upon their vehicles (vahana) such as Kalki upon a horse, Yama upon a water buffalo, Indra upon an Elephant, Parvati upon a lion, Durga upon a tiger, Nirrti upon a man, Shiva upon Nandi the bull, Shiva as Bhairava upon a dog and Agni upon a ram. Each within shaped vignettes against a textured ground between borders of palmettes. The plain areas with traces of a satinised ground. Stamped underneath A. BHICAJEE&Co, BOMBAY, SILVER.

Height – 29.9 cm / 10.2 inches

Weight – 718 grams / 23.08 ozt

“[t]he silversmiths of Bangalore produced fine quality work particularly in Swami and in a jungle pattern showing wild animals in a frieze.” 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. 165.

A Madras jug of the same form dated 1880 by Peter Orr and Sons is 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. 156, fig. 249.

Bhicajee, a Parsee name, as a store located on Apollo Bunder is mentioned in an American report on Indian silverware of 1900-01, to establish the viabillity for sale of American silverware in India compared to 'native wares' by summarising the Indian trade as "Bombay is one of the great centers for native Indian silverware, and for which India has been from time immemorial especially famous Every state, both British and native, and in fact every city or considerable village has its particular brand of workmanship in silver. It is all worked by hand-hammered; the designs are quite artistic and frequently illustrative of village life and hunting scenes, though Hindoo mythology is largely drawn upon to furnish the main designs worked in native silverware. Some of this work is highly artistic, showing an inherited cunning of the caste of Hindoo workmen who have handed down the secrets and art of their craft from father to son for generations. The work is not only prized by the natives, but also by Europeans and Americans visiting India.

The silverware is usually made of coin pure silver; the native desires it as free from alloy as possible. It is very common all over India and is to be found in every shop and bazaar. In fact much of the native wealth of the people is to be found in the silverware of the household and in the personal silver ornaments of the members of the family.

The unit of weight by which the ware is sold is the tola (180 grains), equaling the weight of a silver rupee. The retail prices run from 35 cents to 50 cents per tola, varying according to workmanship and quality of silver." WM. THOS. FEE, Consul, BOMBAY, March 20, 1902 (Special Consular Reports - Silver and Plated Ware in Foreign Countries - Bureau of Foreign Commerce, Department of State - 1902)