A rare late 19^th century Anglo – Indian unmarked silver bowl, Lucknow circa 1880

Raj period. of compressed circular form with a fold over rim, the body with an embossed high relief scene from the Samudra Manthana episode in the Hindu Puranas, “The Churning of The Ocean of Milk”, depicting the serpent king Vasuki acting as the rope that was attached to Mandar Mountain during the stirring of the sea of milk, one side by a team of asuras, and on the other, by a team of devas, Lord Shiva on top, also with Ganesha and Brama, all against a textured ground, between bands of stylised leaves. The underside with a chased caparisoned elephant and a palm tree, encircled.

Height – 14 cm / 5.5 inches

Diameter – 26.5 cm / 10.5 inches

Weight – 1246 grams / 40.06 ozt

This particularly rare design in Lucknow silver has not survived on a large amount of Indian silver, perhaps due to a lack of popularity at the time, a set of twelve bowls with this design wad sold these rooms, 19 Oct 2022, lot 364 (£1875 incl. prem)