ANTIQUE 20thC INDIAN SOLID SILVER MINI TANKARDS, COOKE & KELVEY, CALCUTTA c.1930
Antique 20th Century Indian solid silver set of six mini tankards. In my humble opinion, every dinner party needs a set of these 'tankards' brought out with the After Eights to finish the evening right. Of double sho size (50ml) they take he form of 18th century tankards, complete with their typical glass bottomed bases. In common folklore this feature enabled the drinker to notice if they had been poisoned or 'pennied' - the latter a shipyard naval trick whereby the drinker was conscriped to The Navy if a penny was found at the bottom of their drink. These heavy gauge shots are hallmarked for the Kolkata firm of Cooke & Kelvey, founded by Robert Cooke and Charles Kelvey in 1858. 160 years later they remain one of he most eminent retailer silverversmiths in India with their work highly regarded worldwide.
Reference Number: J9217
DESCRIPTION
Antique 20th Century Indian solid silver set of six mini tankards. In my humble opinion, every dinner party needs a set of these 'tankards' brought out with the After Eights to finish the evening right. Of double sho size (50ml) they take he form of 18th century tankards, complete with their typical glass bottomed bases. In common folklore this feature enabled the drinker to notice if they had been poisoned or 'pennied' - the latter a shipyard naval trick whereby the drinker was conscriped to The Navy if a penny was found at the bottom of their drink. These heavy gauge shots are hallmarked for the Kolkata firm of Cooke & Kelvey, founded by Robert Cooke and Charles Kelvey in 1858. 160 years later they remain one of he most eminent retailer silverversmiths in India with their work highly regarded worldwide.
This renowned Calcutta firm made and retailed silver and other luxury goods for local Europeans, merchants and Royals. Please see (Dehejia, V., Delight in Design: Indian Silver for the Raj, Mapin, 2008) and (page 38, Wilkinson, Indian Colonial silver) and (see Pushkin Antiques archibe, 3 piece tea set by Cooke & Kelvey, Reference number A5673)
CONDITION
In Great Condition - No Damage, fitted case with minor scuffs.
SIZE
Height: 4.7cm
Width: 21.5 x 16.5cm
Silver Weight: 270g