A late 19^th century Anglo – Indian silver three-piece tea service, Madras circa 1880 by Peter Orr and Sons

Raj period, comprising a teapot, milk jug and twin handled sugar bowl. Each of tapering cylindrical form, upon a beaded foot rim. The waisted cavetto upper section with a beaded rim and chased stylised acanthus leaf border. The teapot with a cast and chased spout formed as the head of a beaked yali opposite a serpentine handle with twisted base the coiled lower junction sat upon by a crawling baby Krishna, fitted with ivory insulators. The hinged domed lid surmounted by a detachable cast finial of Shiva as Dakshinamurti. The bodies with embossed decoration of the jugganath procession at Puri design, showing the temple of Vishbakaam’s statue to Vishnu, standing centre flanked by his two consorts Bhudevi and Shri Lakshmi, flanked by parasol bearers, the obverse with a further part of the procession inclusing a rider upon a caprisoned bull, an elephant, and a camel, besides flag bearers. The milk and suagr simmilarly decorated. Traces of gilding to the interior of the sugar bowl. Each marked underneath P. ORR AND SONS MADRAS SILVER. (3)

Teapot length – 26.5 cm / 10.25 inches

Weight – 1964 grams / 63.14 ozt

The design for this teapot from P. Orr and Sons sales catalogue of c. 1880 is illustrated in Wilkinson, W., (1999)., Indian Silver 1858-1947: Decorative Silver from the Indian Sub-Continent and Burma Made by Local Craftsmen in Western Forms. London, Wynyard R T Wilkinson, p. 157.

A four piece tea service and tray, dated 1876 by this maker is illustrated Dehejia, V. (2008), Delight in Design Indian Silver for the Raj, Ahmedabad: Mapin Publishing. P.104-108, f. 26.

A bachelor version of this design marked for Orr was sold these rooms, 14 Feb 2023, lot 48 (£33,750 incl. prem)

Ivory Declaration: 639PLSTS