An early 20^th century Iraqi silver and niello three-piece coffee service, Omara circa 1927-29, signed Abed Al Jabbar

Comprising a Dallah coffee pot, a sugar bowl and a milk jug, the coffee pot of conventional form with a baluster body with a long-curved spout opposite a loop strap handle. The domed hinged lid surmounted by a detachable notched finial, raised by a shell form thumbpiece. The body with niello decoration of a scene of the Tomb of Ezra, dhow sailing boats, and palm trees all above a niello band of meander scroll. The lid nielloed with similar dhow sailing boats and a palm tree to the hinge, all above a nielloed striated edge. The milk jug of compressed globular form upon four ball ended feet with a D section strap handle opposite a short spout, nielloed with similar decoration. The sugar bowl of compressed globular form upon three ball ended feet, nielloed with the Taq Kasra (Ruins of Ctesiphon) as well as other scenes. Together with six coffee spoons, each with nielloed terminals including the Taq Kasra (Ruins of Ctesiphon), the Tomb of Ezra and the Abu Hanifa al in Nu'man, Baghdad. Signed to the side of coffee pot and sugar bowl, the milk jug and spoon unsigned. (9)

Coffee pot height – 15.6 cm / 6.2 inches

Sugar bowl diameter – 7.7 cm / 3 inches

Weight – 610 grams / 19.61 ozt

Provenance: Purchased between 1927-29 by Reginald Jack Stone (1906-89), originally from Great Yarmouth who initially qualified for the RAF then unfortunately due to a motor bike accident could not continue flying. He took up the option of joining the RAF Rolls Royce Armoured car units in Iraq, serving in Basra. He met and married Gladys Baldwin (1896-1946), a nursing sister in Basra hospital. Thence by descent.