ANTIQUE 20thC INDIAN MONUMENTAL SOLID SILVER EWER, CALCUTTA c.1900
20th Century Indian silver ewer, of traditional form, repousse decoration consisting of dense rural scenes, including a herdsman watching his cattle, a peasant man carrying water, another driving an oxcart, carrying a basket of fruit, people fishing and swimming in the river, all within a scenic landscape with huts in the background, base engraved with leaf boarders. The body applied by a large leaf capped scroll handle and hinged lid mounted with a spiked finial.
Reference Number: A6334
DESCRIPTION
Antique early-20th Century Indian monumental solid silver ewer, of traditional form, repousse decoration consisting of dense rural scenes, including a herdsman watching his cattle, a peasant man carrying water, another driving an oxcart, carrying a basket of fruit, people fishing and swimming in the river, all within a scenic landscape with huts in the background, base engraved with leaf boarders. The body applied by a large leaf capped scroll handle and hinged lid mounted with a spiked finial.
The chased decoration depicting figures in a landscape is typically from Calcutta, but in this case the quality of the chasing and the naturalism appear to be exceptional. A very similar style and quality can be found in the best pieces by Grish Chunder Dutt, active in Bhowanipore, Calcutta.
The piece is not marked with the Maker's mark (as often the case for Indian silver). It has to be noted that a bowl depicting similar decoration by Grish Chunder Dutt was sold in Bonhams in 2010 for £9600, part of the Collection of the Austro-Hungarian Emperor Archiduke Franz Ferdinand. The detailed cows and figures, the rounded and matted surface imitating the leaves on the trees and the hammered decoration imitating water and flat ground are all elements that are visible both in this ewer and in the most famous pieces signed by Grish Chunder Dutt, such as the bowl previously mentioned and the jug featuring the "Descent of the Ganges", held in the Virginia Museum of Fine Art.
CONDITION
In Great Condition - No Damage.
SIZE
Height: 52cm
Width: 24 x 18cm
Weight: 2565g
