3-piece colonial Indian silver tea set

3-piece colonial Indian silver tea set

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This quality, three-piece, antique Indian silver tea service is beautifully hand chased with rural local scenes. The teapot depicts people working the fields and chopping wood, pounding grain or rice and people carrying a litter (sedan chair), all against a backdrop of thatched buildings among trees and palms.

The handles are formed as cobras and the removable teapot cover is surmounted by a detachable finial in the form of Lakshmi or Laxmi, the Hindu goddess of wealth, fortune and prosperity. The interiors of the cream jug and sugar bowl are gilded.

The sugar bowl is decorated with a series of people carrying rice, chopping wood, bullocks ploughing the fields and a water carrier with a basket on his head. The milk jug shows similar scenes; a bullock, wood cutter and another couple carrying a litter.

The dimensions given are for the silver teapot and the total weight of this silver tea set is 39.83 troy oz (1239g).

In Bhovanipore, a suburb of Calcutta, local silversmiths Dass & Dutt were known for creating silverware featuring elaborately designed répoussée and chased scenes of Indian village and farming life. Scenes depicted farmers harvesting their crops against a backdrop of mounts, palm trees and other foliage while human figures are often illustrated interacting with elephants, tigers and domestics animals.

Note: Under the rules of the UK government's Ivory Act 2018, this Indian silver tea set qualifies for an ivory exemption certificateIf required, the ivory parts may be replicated and replaced with an ivory substitute at no additional cost.

Dimensions:

Height 150 mm / 6"
Width 225 mm / 9 "
Depth 135 mm / 5 "
Weight 1239 g (39.83 troy ozs)
Year

c1890

Place

Calcutta

Condition

Excellent

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