A late 19^th century Anglo – Indian silver twin handled bowl, Kashmir circa 1880 retailed by Cooke and Kelvey of Calcutta

Raj period. Of hemispherical form upon a domed circular foot. The cast and applied twin handles modelled a knotted branches with three leaves as the junctions. The body and foot with chased decoration in shawl pattern below a trailing rosette border. Marked to the foot rim with C&K and lion’s head.

Length – 29.7 cm / 11.75 inches

Height – 18.2 cm / 7.1 inches

Weight – 1158 grams / 37.23 ozt

This is an interesting occurrence of Raj silver with the additions of European style castings in the twin handles which are much more typical of the Indian Colonial silversmithing firms chiefly located in Calcutta and Madras. Raj silver uses the worked decorative designs specific to a particular region such as the shawl pattern famously produced in Kashmir in the north of British India. Cooke and Kelvey was formed with the partnership of Robert Thomas Cooke and Charles Kelvey in 1859, the firm was in operation well into the 20^th century.