A pair of early 20^th century Iraqi silver and niello cups and saucers, Baghdad circa 1928 probably by Baghdad Onaisi (Onaisi Al Fayyadh)

Comprising two saucer, two cups and two spoons. Each with niello decoration of sailing boat, palm trees, camels, boatman in a gufa as well as the Tomb of Ezra to one saucer and the Tomb of Hadrat Sheikh Marouf al Karkhi, Baghdad to one cup. The spoons with niello floral decoration to the handles. Unsigned. (6)

Saucer Diameter – 8.7 cm / 3.45 inches

Weight – 209 grams / 6.72 ozt

Brigadier Sir Iltyd Nicholl Clayton KBE (1886 – 1955) was a British Army officer notable for his attachment to the Middle East Office in Cairo during and after World War II and his involvement in the formation of Arab League and formulation of post-war British policy in the Middle East. Awarded the General Service Medal with clasp for Iraq; the Iraq Active Service Medal; and the Fourth Class of the Order of Al Nahda of Hedjaz on 8 March 1920.

Clayton remained in Iraq post-War, on secondment to the Iraqi Army, and served as Chief Instructor and Staff Officer to their Artillery, services for which he was created an Officer of the Order of the British Empire in 1927. Returning home, he served as Regimental Lieutenant-Colonel of the Royal Artillery from 1934 to 1938 and retired in 1939. Recalled to service during the Second World War, he served as Advisor on Arab Affairs to the British Government from 1943 to 1945 and was later Special Advisor to the Head of the British Middle East Office and served as Minister attached to the British Embassy in Cairo from 1947 to 1948.