Indian colonial interest – A fine William IV sterling silver twin handled cup and cover, London 1830 by messrs Barnard

Of ovoid form upon a spreading domed foot with a central ovolo knop, the cast twin handles formed a twisted vine branches fructed, the upper junction bifurcated leading to garlands of grapes across the rim. The pull off domed lid with applied vine leaves and tendrils, surmounted by a detachable finely cast finial of a lotus flower rising from a leafy calyx. The body with embossed lotus leaves, the tips cast and applied, interspersed with cast and applied flowers. The foot with embossed decoration of a lotus flower stamen, interspersed with acanthus leaves. The front engraved with a presentation inscription reading “To Captain Wake of the Ship Robarts, as a testimony of Esteem and Gratitude from the passengers of the Hindostan whom he received on board his ship, the 14^th October 1832, F. Home, M. Alexander, R. Home, D. Pringle, E. Pringle, A. Pringle, J. Alexander, E. Hopper”. Scratched underneath 336=71~7 @g/t (stock code 336, at 71 ozt, 7 dwt, and a coded manufacturing cost). Fully marked to neck, part-marked to lid interior and finial, the retaining nut with lion passant.

Height – 33.2 cm / 13.05 inches

Weight – 2217 grams / 71.28 ozt

This cup is illustrated:

Wilkinson W., (1987). The Makers of Indian Colonial Silver, London: Wynyard R T Wilkinson. P. XVII.

Fallon. J.P., (2012). House of Barnard – A Notable Family of Manufacturing Silversmiths to the Trade., Bedfordshire: Authors OnLine Ltd. P. 261.

Regarding the inscription it is reported in The Asiatic Journal and Monthly Register for British and Foreign India, China, and Australia, Parbury, Allen, and Company, 1832 p.227, passengers to India “per Hindostan, for Madras and Bengal; Capt. and Mrs Holme; Capt. and the Misses Pringle; Lieut. And Mrs Alexander; Lieut Coates; Mr. Warren: Mr Brown; Mr Porteus; Mr Shephard; Mr Hopper.”

On the 24^th May 1832, a Hindostan captained by Redman arriving at Madras and Bengal from Portsmouth.

On the 6^th October 1832 the Hindostan, captained by Potter departed from Calcutta for Penang.

In 1832, two ships called the Hindostan, sailed for India. One for J. Cropper & Co, built in Liverpool at 360 tons, Captain J. Patterson, Nov 15^th for Bombay. The other at 550 tons, Captain G. J. Redman, May 24^th for Madras and Bombay. (Lloyd's Register of Shipping 1833 Underwriters). The ship mentioned on this cup may be the second of these.

The Robarts, at 730 tons owned by Gledstanes and Co, with its captain Henry Wake arrived in Madras from London on the 19^th April 1834, while on Feb 5^th 1832 it was Captained by Kennedy due to arrive in Hooghley (West Bengal) from Mauritius. Presumably Wake taking over some time after Feb 5^th. It is understood that the Hindostan was storm damaged and the passengers were rescued by Wake on the Robarts, presumably in the Madras area. A portrait presumed to be of Captain Henry Wake has been reproduced by permission of the family, whom this cup remained in their possession until at latest 1987 (see Wilkinson 1987 above).

Of the passengers mentioned the Pringles are almost certainly for Alexander Pringle (1791-1857), Elizabeth Pringle (1798-1837), and David Pringle (1806-1889) all the children of Alexander Pringle of Whytbank, Selkirkd (1747-1827) and Mary Dick-Cunningham (1766-1849), the daughter of Sir Alexander Dick, 3rd Baronet of Prestonfield (1703-1785). Alexander was a captain in the Bombay native infantry. Their brother was Robert Keith Pringle (1802-1897), a civil servant in Bombay, who circa 1823 was assistant revenue collector of Poona, later appointed the first Chief Commissioner of Sind in 1847. He had returned to Scotland by at least 1852.

The J and M Alexander may possibly be for James Alexender (1808-1858), Colonel of the Madras Cavalry who lived and died in India. He the son of Josias Dupre Alexander (1771-1839) and his wife Mary Bracken (1791-1867), he a director of East India Company, his brother James Alexander (1769-1848) Treasurer, to the Court of Directors East India Company.

Jeremy Taylor Collection