An early 19^th century Indian Colonial silver christening mug, Madras circa 1825 by Grostate and Co (active 1819-27)

Of campana form upon a domed circular foot, an acanthus leaf die stuck C scroll handle. The body with embossed decoration of flower heads against a matted ground, the foot with embossed acanthus leaves. Gilt interior. Marked underneath G&Co only.

Height – 12.6 cm / 5 inches

Weight – 190 grams / 6.11 ozt

Francis Grostate (1772-1838), formed a partnership with George William Isembert (d.1827) and Francis Perrimen who left the partnership in May 1824. It appears that Grostate’s later life after the partnership was a hard one where on the 21^st April 1830 he is a prisoner in the gaol of the Court of Commissioners, where he applied for benefit under the Act for the Relief of Insolvent Debtors, being ‘without employ’ a year later also. See Wilkinson W., The Makers of Indian Colonial Silver, (1987), London: W.R.T. Wilkinson., p. 81-82.