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Lot 87
 
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AN EXQUISITE REPOUSSE CHASED KUTCH SILVER TEA CUP AND SAUCER

Silver
699.6 grams (gross)
Cup: 3 in (7.6 cm) high (on saucer)
Spoon: 6.5 in (16.5 cm) long

Possibly Bhuj, an extremly rare kutch silver tea cup with saucer and tea spoon decorated with the classic foliate motif, characteristic of period Kutch silver, in the manner of Mawji Raghavji, the tea cup is inscribed in Gujarati with the name 'Raja Motilal Lalbhai', the Diwan of Kutch.

Of all the silverware produced on the Indian subcontinent in the 18th and 19th centuries, Kutch silver was, and still remains, the most valued and sought-after. The defining allure of Kutch silver lies in its decorative style. The endless foliate scrolling, elaborate hunting scenes, realistic human figures, and intricate detailing on the smallest parts, set Kutch silver several notches above that produced in other regions of India.

Kutch lies in north-western India, and has a centuries-old tradition of silversmithing. Kutch silver is manufactures by an elaborate technique which includes repeated heating and cooling of the silver form so that it can be hammered, filed and punched to produce great detail and high relief.

Artisans in the Bhuj region of Kutch enjoyed patronage from a lineage of rulers, including the Maharaos and the Gaekwads. They played a critical critical role in helping Kutch silversmiths gain international recognition by ensuring that they regularly attended regional and international silver exhibitions to display and popularize their creations. Two silversmiths in particular, benefited the most from royal patronage. Oomersi Mawji was perhaps the most accomplished and celebrated 19th century silversmith of the Indian subcontinent, who went on to establish the eponymously named firm of Oomersi Mawji & Sons in Bhuj. Kutch silver is almost synonymous with him, but Raghavji Mawji, a contemporary of Oomersi, also produced astounding pieces of silverware with meticulous attention to detail. Their work has set the bar for the sterling reputation which Kutch silver now enjoys among collectors.







  Lot 87 of 105  

20TH CENTURY DESIGN
10-11 AUGUST 2015

Estimate









Silver Tea cup

Provenance:
By repute, "Diwanji Rai Bahadur Motilal Lalbhai" (Diwan of Kutch Bhuj from 1875 to 1902)
An Important Private Collection, Ahmedabad


 









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