Oliver White
Head of Department
Lot 225†
A repoussé silver box with Hindu mythological scenes by Oomersi Mawji and Sons Bhuj, Gujarat, 1890 - 1910
8 April 2014, 10:30 BST
London, New Bond Street£8,000 - £12,000
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A repoussé silver box with Hindu mythological scenes by Oomersi Mawji and Sons
Bhuj, Gujarat, 1890 - 1910
Bhuj, Gujarat, 1890 - 1910
of rectangular form, with stepped hinged lid, on four scrolling feet, with two curved handles, decorated with a deeply cut tight scrolling floral pattern upon a textured background within a geometric border, beading to edges of box, the four sides with central lobed medallions depicting Vishnu on Sheshnag, the multi-hooded divine serpent, accompanied by an attendant; Vishnu in his first avatar as Matsya (half-fish) slaying a demon; Krishna playing his flute surrounded by cows and gopis; Vishnu in his second avatar as Kurma (the turtle) slaying a demon; the lid with a central rectangular scene depicting Ram and Sita with Hanuman and Bali, the monkey gods, and further attendants; keyhole to front of box stamped with 'Made in ... ; Handmade', interior plain, stamped on underside with maker's mark 'O.M BHUJ'
23.5 x 16 x 12 cm; 3006 g.
23.5 x 16 x 12 cm; 3006 g.
Footnotes
The scrolling floral motifs are typical of the Kutchi style while the mythological scenes are derived from Swami style silver from Madras. An archive of drawings recovered from the workshops of Oomersee Mawjee in Bhuj and Baroda illustrate the immense variety of silverware being made. If a customer was interested in Swami style silver from Madras, the O.M. workshops could effortlessly provide Madras inspired designs. The workshop drawings include a tea service shaped in a Kutch style and adorned with circular medallions featuring Hindu mythological scenes, described as a 'Cutch Swamy work Teaset'. The archive of Oomersee Mawjee's workshop drawings is discussed in V. Dehejia, Delight in Silver - Indian Silver for the Raj' Exhibition Catalogue, New York 2008, pp. 40 - 41. Our silver box appears to be another example of the 'Kutch Swami' style.