{"id":5591686381718,"title":"Antique Indian Silver And Rosewood Table Box, Large Size, Oomersi Mawji, Bhuj, Kutch – Circa 1870","handle":"antique-indian-silver-and-rosewood-table-box-large-size-oomersi-mawji-bhuj-kutch-circa-1870","description":"\u003cp\u003eThis large and quietly elegant locking table box has been executed in Oomersi Mawji’s signature style with five panels of rhythmic and intricate scrolling vines and flowers. It is a very unusual item, possibly unique. The panels have all been pierced and set onto a dark coloured Indian rosewood box, lined with a lighter contrasting wood.  The four side panels are each divided into two parts where the base and lid meet. Both opening edges are capped with a band of plain silver, to minimise damage.  The side panels are all of the same design and incorporate a gentle double undulation, suggesting movement. The principal panel to the top of the box is in the same style but has a central floral motif in place of the wave pattern. An internal frame of plain silver emphasises the decorative lacey pierced edges of the silver. The box is signed O.M above the lock and has an associated key.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eOomersi Mawji was the best known and most celebrated Indian silversmith of his generation. Appointed Royal Silversmith to the Maharaja of Kutch, he amassed a large international clientele.  Participating in several foreign expositions, he won many prizes for his work and helped to popularise Kutch silver abroad, particularly in Great Britain. His greatest disappointment came at the great Delhi Exhibition in 1903, when he was awarded second prize for a collection of seven pieces exhibited in the Gold and Silver Plate Division.  Although this was the highest placing awarded to an Indian silversmith; the first prize was, very unexpectedly, awarded to a Burmese silversmith!\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eMawji’s workshop in Bhuj was enterprising and received many fine commissions. Helped by his sons and using silver of an extremely high purity (normally 95-98%) he produced many masterpieces. He worked predominantly in the Kutch style but also in the Madras swami and Calcutta rural village styles.  Occasionally, and unusually for Indian silversmiths, he sometimes combined other materials with the silver; luxurious woods and ebony, mother of pearl, ivory, tiger’s teeth, boar’s tusks and claws.  This box is a fine and rare example of this area of his work.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cem\u003eProvenance:\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e        UK art market\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cem\u003eSize:\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e                        Height 8 cms, width  27.5 cms, depth 18.5  cms\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cem\u003eReferences:\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eVidya Dehejia, Delight in Design – Indian Silver for the Raj, Mapin Publishing, India 2008\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWatt and Brown, Indian Art at Delhi, 1903, Being the Official Catalogue of the Delhi Exhibition,  1902-1903, Calcutta, Superintendent of Government Printing, India 1903\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWynyard R T Wilkinson, Indian Silver 1858-1947, Decorative Silver from the Indian Subcontinent and Burma, Made by Local Craftsmen in Western Forms,  W Wilkinson \u0026amp; Indar Pashrical Fine Arts, London 1997\u003c\/p\u003e","published_at":"2020-08-09T17:03:25+01:00","created_at":"2020-08-09T17:03:23+01:00","vendor":"Joseph Cohen Antiques","type":"Table Box","tags":["Sold Archive"],"price":0,"price_min":0,"price_max":0,"available":false,"price_varies":false,"compare_at_price":null,"compare_at_price_min":0,"compare_at_price_max":0,"compare_at_price_varies":false,"variants":[{"id":35685851758742,"title":"Default Title","option1":"Default Title","option2":null,"option3":null,"sku":"JC-TABL-06905","requires_shipping":true,"taxable":true,"featured_image":null,"available":false,"name":"Antique Indian Silver And Rosewood Table Box, Large Size, Oomersi Mawji, Bhuj, Kutch – Circa 1870","public_title":null,"options":["Default Title"],"price":0,"weight":0,"compare_at_price":null,"inventory_management":"shopify","barcode":"","requires_selling_plan":false,"selling_plan_allocations":[]}],"images":["\/\/www.josephcohenantiques.com\/cdn\/shop\/products\/NNHH8_Kutch-Indian-Silver-Rosewood-Box-O.M-1.jpg?v=1596989006","\/\/www.josephcohenantiques.com\/cdn\/shop\/products\/VKFW_Kutch-Indian-Silver-Rosewood-Box--3.jpg?v=1596989007","\/\/www.josephcohenantiques.com\/cdn\/shop\/products\/0DQ_Kutch-Indian-Silver-Rosewood-Box--6.jpg?v=1596989007","\/\/www.josephcohenantiques.com\/cdn\/shop\/products\/W083_Kutch-Indian-Silver-Rosewood-Box--8.jpg?v=1596989007","\/\/www.josephcohenantiques.com\/cdn\/shop\/products\/0OR5_Kutch-Indian-Silver-Rosewood-Box--12.jpg?v=1596989007","\/\/www.josephcohenantiques.com\/cdn\/shop\/products\/4_Kutch-Indian-Silver-Rosewood-Box--4.jpg?v=1596989007","\/\/www.josephcohenantiques.com\/cdn\/shop\/products\/9YK_Kutch-Indian-Silver-Rosewood-Box--9.jpg?v=1596989007","\/\/www.josephcohenantiques.com\/cdn\/shop\/products\/35O_Kutch-Indian-Silver-Rosewood-Box--7.jpg?v=1596989007","\/\/www.josephcohenantiques.com\/cdn\/shop\/products\/66AI_Kutch-Indian-Silver-Rosewood-Box--10.jpg?v=1596989007","\/\/www.josephcohenantiques.com\/cdn\/shop\/products\/D3IE_Kutch-Indian-Silver-Rosewood-Box--11.jpg?v=1596989007","\/\/www.josephcohenantiques.com\/cdn\/shop\/products\/G6_Kutch-Indian-Silver-Rosewood-Box--5.jpg?v=1596989007","\/\/www.josephcohenantiques.com\/cdn\/shop\/products\/KKWN_Kutch-Indian-Silver-Rosewood-Box--13.jpg?v=1596989007"],"featured_image":"\/\/www.josephcohenantiques.com\/cdn\/shop\/products\/NNHH8_Kutch-Indian-Silver-Rosewood-Box-O.M-1.jpg?v=1596989006","options":["Title"],"media":[{"alt":null,"id":10618431963286,"position":1,"preview_image":{"aspect_ratio":1.0,"height":900,"width":900,"src":"\/\/www.josephcohenantiques.com\/cdn\/shop\/products\/NNHH8_Kutch-Indian-Silver-Rosewood-Box-O.M-1.jpg?v=1596989006"},"aspect_ratio":1.0,"height":900,"media_type":"image","src":"\/\/www.josephcohenantiques.com\/cdn\/shop\/products\/NNHH8_Kutch-Indian-Silver-Rosewood-Box-O.M-1.jpg?v=1596989006","width":900},{"alt":null,"id":10618431996054,"position":2,"preview_image":{"aspect_ratio":1.0,"height":900,"width":900,"src":"\/\/www.josephcohenantiques.com\/cdn\/shop\/products\/VKFW_Kutch-Indian-Silver-Rosewood-Box--3.jpg?v=1596989007"},"aspect_ratio":1.0,"height":900,"media_type":"image","src":"\/\/www.josephcohenantiques.com\/cdn\/shop\/products\/VKFW_Kutch-Indian-Silver-Rosewood-Box--3.jpg?v=1596989007","width":900},{"alt":null,"id":10618432028822,"position":3,"preview_image":{"aspect_ratio":1.0,"height":900,"width":900,"src":"\/\/www.josephcohenantiques.com\/cdn\/shop\/products\/0DQ_Kutch-Indian-Silver-Rosewood-Box--6.jpg?v=1596989007"},"aspect_ratio":1.0,"height":900,"media_type":"image","src":"\/\/www.josephcohenantiques.com\/cdn\/shop\/products\/0DQ_Kutch-Indian-Silver-Rosewood-Box--6.jpg?v=1596989007","width":900},{"alt":null,"id":10618432061590,"position":4,"preview_image":{"aspect_ratio":1.0,"height":900,"width":900,"src":"\/\/www.josephcohenantiques.com\/cdn\/shop\/products\/W083_Kutch-Indian-Silver-Rosewood-Box--8.jpg?v=1596989007"},"aspect_ratio":1.0,"height":900,"media_type":"image","src":"\/\/www.josephcohenantiques.com\/cdn\/shop\/products\/W083_Kutch-Indian-Silver-Rosewood-Box--8.jpg?v=1596989007","width":900},{"alt":null,"id":10618432127126,"position":5,"preview_image":{"aspect_ratio":1.0,"height":900,"width":900,"src":"\/\/www.josephcohenantiques.com\/cdn\/shop\/products\/0OR5_Kutch-Indian-Silver-Rosewood-Box--12.jpg?v=1596989007"},"aspect_ratio":1.0,"height":900,"media_type":"image","src":"\/\/www.josephcohenantiques.com\/cdn\/shop\/products\/0OR5_Kutch-Indian-Silver-Rosewood-Box--12.jpg?v=1596989007","width":900},{"alt":null,"id":10618432225430,"position":6,"preview_image":{"aspect_ratio":1.0,"height":900,"width":900,"src":"\/\/www.josephcohenantiques.com\/cdn\/shop\/products\/4_Kutch-Indian-Silver-Rosewood-Box--4.jpg?v=1596989007"},"aspect_ratio":1.0,"height":900,"media_type":"image","src":"\/\/www.josephcohenantiques.com\/cdn\/shop\/products\/4_Kutch-Indian-Silver-Rosewood-Box--4.jpg?v=1596989007","width":900},{"alt":null,"id":10618432258198,"position":7,"preview_image":{"aspect_ratio":1.0,"height":900,"width":900,"src":"\/\/www.josephcohenantiques.com\/cdn\/shop\/products\/9YK_Kutch-Indian-Silver-Rosewood-Box--9.jpg?v=1596989007"},"aspect_ratio":1.0,"height":900,"media_type":"image","src":"\/\/www.josephcohenantiques.com\/cdn\/shop\/products\/9YK_Kutch-Indian-Silver-Rosewood-Box--9.jpg?v=1596989007","width":900},{"alt":null,"id":10618432290966,"position":8,"preview_image":{"aspect_ratio":1.0,"height":900,"width":900,"src":"\/\/www.josephcohenantiques.com\/cdn\/shop\/products\/35O_Kutch-Indian-Silver-Rosewood-Box--7.jpg?v=1596989007"},"aspect_ratio":1.0,"height":900,"media_type":"image","src":"\/\/www.josephcohenantiques.com\/cdn\/shop\/products\/35O_Kutch-Indian-Silver-Rosewood-Box--7.jpg?v=1596989007","width":900},{"alt":null,"id":10618432356502,"position":9,"preview_image":{"aspect_ratio":1.0,"height":900,"width":900,"src":"\/\/www.josephcohenantiques.com\/cdn\/shop\/products\/66AI_Kutch-Indian-Silver-Rosewood-Box--10.jpg?v=1596989007"},"aspect_ratio":1.0,"height":900,"media_type":"image","src":"\/\/www.josephcohenantiques.com\/cdn\/shop\/products\/66AI_Kutch-Indian-Silver-Rosewood-Box--10.jpg?v=1596989007","width":900},{"alt":null,"id":10618432454806,"position":10,"preview_image":{"aspect_ratio":1.0,"height":900,"width":900,"src":"\/\/www.josephcohenantiques.com\/cdn\/shop\/products\/D3IE_Kutch-Indian-Silver-Rosewood-Box--11.jpg?v=1596989007"},"aspect_ratio":1.0,"height":900,"media_type":"image","src":"\/\/www.josephcohenantiques.com\/cdn\/shop\/products\/D3IE_Kutch-Indian-Silver-Rosewood-Box--11.jpg?v=1596989007","width":900},{"alt":null,"id":10618432553110,"position":11,"preview_image":{"aspect_ratio":1.0,"height":900,"width":900,"src":"\/\/www.josephcohenantiques.com\/cdn\/shop\/products\/G6_Kutch-Indian-Silver-Rosewood-Box--5.jpg?v=1596989007"},"aspect_ratio":1.0,"height":900,"media_type":"image","src":"\/\/www.josephcohenantiques.com\/cdn\/shop\/products\/G6_Kutch-Indian-Silver-Rosewood-Box--5.jpg?v=1596989007","width":900},{"alt":null,"id":10618432585878,"position":12,"preview_image":{"aspect_ratio":1.0,"height":900,"width":900,"src":"\/\/www.josephcohenantiques.com\/cdn\/shop\/products\/KKWN_Kutch-Indian-Silver-Rosewood-Box--13.jpg?v=1596989007"},"aspect_ratio":1.0,"height":900,"media_type":"image","src":"\/\/www.josephcohenantiques.com\/cdn\/shop\/products\/KKWN_Kutch-Indian-Silver-Rosewood-Box--13.jpg?v=1596989007","width":900}],"requires_selling_plan":false,"selling_plan_groups":[],"content":"\u003cp\u003eThis large and quietly elegant locking table box has been executed in Oomersi Mawji’s signature style with five panels of rhythmic and intricate scrolling vines and flowers. It is a very unusual item, possibly unique. The panels have all been pierced and set onto a dark coloured Indian rosewood box, lined with a lighter contrasting wood.  The four side panels are each divided into two parts where the base and lid meet. Both opening edges are capped with a band of plain silver, to minimise damage.  The side panels are all of the same design and incorporate a gentle double undulation, suggesting movement. The principal panel to the top of the box is in the same style but has a central floral motif in place of the wave pattern. An internal frame of plain silver emphasises the decorative lacey pierced edges of the silver. The box is signed O.M above the lock and has an associated key.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eOomersi Mawji was the best known and most celebrated Indian silversmith of his generation. Appointed Royal Silversmith to the Maharaja of Kutch, he amassed a large international clientele.  Participating in several foreign expositions, he won many prizes for his work and helped to popularise Kutch silver abroad, particularly in Great Britain. His greatest disappointment came at the great Delhi Exhibition in 1903, when he was awarded second prize for a collection of seven pieces exhibited in the Gold and Silver Plate Division.  Although this was the highest placing awarded to an Indian silversmith; the first prize was, very unexpectedly, awarded to a Burmese silversmith!\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eMawji’s workshop in Bhuj was enterprising and received many fine commissions. Helped by his sons and using silver of an extremely high purity (normally 95-98%) he produced many masterpieces. He worked predominantly in the Kutch style but also in the Madras swami and Calcutta rural village styles.  Occasionally, and unusually for Indian silversmiths, he sometimes combined other materials with the silver; luxurious woods and ebony, mother of pearl, ivory, tiger’s teeth, boar’s tusks and claws.  This box is a fine and rare example of this area of his work.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cem\u003eProvenance:\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e        UK art market\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cem\u003eSize:\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e                        Height 8 cms, width  27.5 cms, depth 18.5  cms\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cem\u003eReferences:\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eVidya Dehejia, Delight in Design – Indian Silver for the Raj, Mapin Publishing, India 2008\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWatt and Brown, Indian Art at Delhi, 1903, Being the Official Catalogue of the Delhi Exhibition,  1902-1903, Calcutta, Superintendent of Government Printing, India 1903\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWynyard R T Wilkinson, Indian Silver 1858-1947, Decorative Silver from the Indian Subcontinent and Burma, Made by Local Craftsmen in Western Forms,  W Wilkinson \u0026amp; Indar Pashrical Fine Arts, London 1997\u003c\/p\u003e"}