{"id":5592434802838,"title":"Antique Indian Silver Lidded Jug, Oomersi Mawji, Bhuj, Kutch (cutch), India – 1890","handle":"antique-indian-silver-lidded-jug-oomersi-mawji-bhuj-kutch-cutch-india-1890","description":"\u003cp\u003eThis handsome antique Indian silver jug is covered in Kutch style repousse and chased ornamentation on a finely hammered ground. The ornamentation is precise, well planned and beautifully executed. Despite the jug’s age of approximately 130 years, all the details are still crisp and very sharp with no signs of over polishing.  The jug has good weight and has been fashioned from a heavy gauge of silver. It has a very smart and ‘well tailored’ appearance with the narrow bands of plain silver defining and framing the individual panels. To the underside of the base it bears the maker’s mark ‘O.M’ which was used by Oomersi Mawji in the early years of his career whilst operating from his original workshop in Bhuj.\u003cspan data-ccp-props='{\"201341983\":0,\"335559739\":160,\"335559740\":259}'\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe jug is covered by a hinged and stepped lid with a decorative bud finial.  The base of the finial is encircled by acanthus leaves contained within a thick rope border.  The lower part of the lid has been ornamented with a border of Kutch floral and foliate elements and finished with a narrow plain silver border. \u003cspan data-ccp-props='{\"201341983\":0,\"335559739\":160,\"335559740\":259}'\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe squared ‘C’ shaped handle is ornamented to the outer face with a ribbon of elongated flowering plant motifs between narrow plain silver and rope borders.  The spout is short, thick and upwardly curving.  All the side panels have been ornamented with artfully arranged Kutch style floral and foliate sprigs surrounded by narrow plain silver borders.\u003cspan data-ccp-props='{\"201341983\":0,\"335559739\":160,\"335559740\":259}'\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe ornamentation of the various panels has been skilfully planned to make the most effective use of the available space in order to achieve the best outcome.  Although the floral and foliate elements all appear similar, they differ widely and have been combined and arranged in a variety of different ways.  Although the overall effect is consistent, the individual panels are very different upon close examination.  One of Mawji’s great strengths was his ability to orchestrate these complex variations with great finesse in order to achieve a visually strong object;  a feat few other silversmiths could manage to emulate. \u003cspan data-ccp-props='{\"201341983\":0,\"335559739\":160,\"335559740\":259}'\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe body of the jug is supported by a plain silver pedestal foot with a corresponding plain silver rim to the top.  The scrolling floral and foliate ornament runs the whole height of the jug, contained by acanthus leaf borders to top and bottom.  Here, with the space to move, the sprigs are at their most lush, lively and joyous, the flowers are full blown and the stems arch and scroll in all directions.\u003cspan data-ccp-props='{\"201341983\":0,\"335559739\":160,\"335559740\":259}'\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eOomersi Mawji became the best known and most celebrated Indian silversmith of his generation. His first workshop was in Bhuj, Kutch, nowadays in the Gujarat region of India, and with help from the Maharaja of Kutch, he became the premier Kutch silversmith.  He signed his work in the style of this piece ‘O.M’ or ‘O.M. BHUJ’.   Later he moved to Baroda where he set up a workshop with his sons, trading as “Oomersee M and Sons, Art Silversmiths, Baroda”.  After he was appointed Royal Silversmith to the Maharaja of Kutch, he amassed a large international clientele and was renowned for his high quality, skill, fine work and exceptional design.\u003cspan data-ccp-props='{\"201341983\":0,\"335559739\":160,\"335559740\":259}'\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eMawji’s workshops were enterprising and he received many fine and important 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 European, ‘Madras swami’ and ‘Calcutta rural village’ styles. Participating in several foreign expositions, he won many prizes for his work and helped to popularise Kutch silver abroad, particularly in Great Britain.\u003cspan data-ccp-props='{\"201341983\":0,\"335559739\":160,\"335559740\":259}'\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan data-ccp-props='{\"201341983\":0,\"335559739\":160,\"335559740\":259}'\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ci\u003eProvenance:\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ci\u003eDimensions\u003c\/i\u003e\u003ci\u003e: \u003c\/i\u003eHeight 11cms; Width 10.5cms\u003cspan data-ccp-props='{\"201341983\":0,\"335559739\":160,\"335559740\":259}'\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ci\u003eWeight\u003c\/i\u003e\u003ci\u003e: \u003c\/i\u003e214 grammes\u003cspan data-ccp-props='{\"201341983\":0,\"335559739\":160,\"335559740\":259}'\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ci\u003eReferences:\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cspan data-ccp-props='{\"201341983\":0,\"335559739\":160,\"335559740\":259}'\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\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\u003cspan data-ccp-props='{\"201341983\":0,\"335559739\":160,\"335559740\":259}'\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\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\u003cspan data-ccp-props='{\"201341983\":0,\"335559739\":160,\"335559740\":259}'\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eVidya Dehejia, Delight in Design – Indian Silver for the Raj, Mapin Publishing, India 2008\u003c\/p\u003e","published_at":"2020-08-09T23:48:12+01:00","created_at":"2020-08-09T23:48:10+01:00","vendor":"Joseph Cohen Antiques","type":"Lidded Jug","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":35689541533846,"title":"Default Title","option1":"Default Title","option2":null,"option3":null,"sku":"JC-LIDD-06938","requires_shipping":true,"taxable":true,"featured_image":null,"available":false,"name":"Antique Indian Silver Lidded Jug, Oomersi Mawji, Bhuj, Kutch (cutch), India – 1890","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\/1_5UG2.jpg?v=1597013291","\/\/www.josephcohenantiques.com\/cdn\/shop\/products\/2_3JN.jpg?v=1597013291","\/\/www.josephcohenantiques.com\/cdn\/shop\/products\/3_45BP.jpg?v=1597013292","\/\/www.josephcohenantiques.com\/cdn\/shop\/products\/4_Q06.jpg?v=1597013292","\/\/www.josephcohenantiques.com\/cdn\/shop\/products\/5_P383.jpg?v=1597013292","\/\/www.josephcohenantiques.com\/cdn\/shop\/products\/6_33D6O.jpg?v=1597013292","\/\/www.josephcohenantiques.com\/cdn\/shop\/products\/7_G6.jpg?v=1597013292","\/\/www.josephcohenantiques.com\/cdn\/shop\/products\/8_54.jpg?v=1597013292","\/\/www.josephcohenantiques.com\/cdn\/shop\/products\/9_V8.jpg?v=1597013293","\/\/www.josephcohenantiques.com\/cdn\/shop\/products\/10_7QX.jpg?v=1597013293"],"featured_image":"\/\/www.josephcohenantiques.com\/cdn\/shop\/products\/1_5UG2.jpg?v=1597013291","options":["Title"],"media":[{"alt":null,"id":10620959162518,"position":1,"preview_image":{"aspect_ratio":1.0,"height":768,"width":768,"src":"\/\/www.josephcohenantiques.com\/cdn\/shop\/products\/1_5UG2.jpg?v=1597013291"},"aspect_ratio":1.0,"height":768,"media_type":"image","src":"\/\/www.josephcohenantiques.com\/cdn\/shop\/products\/1_5UG2.jpg?v=1597013291","width":768},{"alt":null,"id":10620959195286,"position":2,"preview_image":{"aspect_ratio":1.0,"height":768,"width":768,"src":"\/\/www.josephcohenantiques.com\/cdn\/shop\/products\/2_3JN.jpg?v=1597013291"},"aspect_ratio":1.0,"height":768,"media_type":"image","src":"\/\/www.josephcohenantiques.com\/cdn\/shop\/products\/2_3JN.jpg?v=1597013291","width":768},{"alt":null,"id":10620959228054,"position":3,"preview_image":{"aspect_ratio":1.0,"height":768,"width":768,"src":"\/\/www.josephcohenantiques.com\/cdn\/shop\/products\/3_45BP.jpg?v=1597013292"},"aspect_ratio":1.0,"height":768,"media_type":"image","src":"\/\/www.josephcohenantiques.com\/cdn\/shop\/products\/3_45BP.jpg?v=1597013292","width":768},{"alt":null,"id":10620959260822,"position":4,"preview_image":{"aspect_ratio":1.0,"height":768,"width":768,"src":"\/\/www.josephcohenantiques.com\/cdn\/shop\/products\/4_Q06.jpg?v=1597013292"},"aspect_ratio":1.0,"height":768,"media_type":"image","src":"\/\/www.josephcohenantiques.com\/cdn\/shop\/products\/4_Q06.jpg?v=1597013292","width":768},{"alt":null,"id":10620959293590,"position":5,"preview_image":{"aspect_ratio":1.0,"height":768,"width":768,"src":"\/\/www.josephcohenantiques.com\/cdn\/shop\/products\/5_P383.jpg?v=1597013292"},"aspect_ratio":1.0,"height":768,"media_type":"image","src":"\/\/www.josephcohenantiques.com\/cdn\/shop\/products\/5_P383.jpg?v=1597013292","width":768},{"alt":null,"id":10620959326358,"position":6,"preview_image":{"aspect_ratio":1.0,"height":768,"width":768,"src":"\/\/www.josephcohenantiques.com\/cdn\/shop\/products\/6_33D6O.jpg?v=1597013292"},"aspect_ratio":1.0,"height":768,"media_type":"image","src":"\/\/www.josephcohenantiques.com\/cdn\/shop\/products\/6_33D6O.jpg?v=1597013292","width":768},{"alt":null,"id":10620959359126,"position":7,"preview_image":{"aspect_ratio":1.0,"height":768,"width":768,"src":"\/\/www.josephcohenantiques.com\/cdn\/shop\/products\/7_G6.jpg?v=1597013292"},"aspect_ratio":1.0,"height":768,"media_type":"image","src":"\/\/www.josephcohenantiques.com\/cdn\/shop\/products\/7_G6.jpg?v=1597013292","width":768},{"alt":null,"id":10620959391894,"position":8,"preview_image":{"aspect_ratio":1.0,"height":768,"width":768,"src":"\/\/www.josephcohenantiques.com\/cdn\/shop\/products\/8_54.jpg?v=1597013292"},"aspect_ratio":1.0,"height":768,"media_type":"image","src":"\/\/www.josephcohenantiques.com\/cdn\/shop\/products\/8_54.jpg?v=1597013292","width":768},{"alt":null,"id":10620959424662,"position":9,"preview_image":{"aspect_ratio":1.0,"height":768,"width":768,"src":"\/\/www.josephcohenantiques.com\/cdn\/shop\/products\/9_V8.jpg?v=1597013293"},"aspect_ratio":1.0,"height":768,"media_type":"image","src":"\/\/www.josephcohenantiques.com\/cdn\/shop\/products\/9_V8.jpg?v=1597013293","width":768},{"alt":null,"id":10620959490198,"position":10,"preview_image":{"aspect_ratio":1.0,"height":768,"width":768,"src":"\/\/www.josephcohenantiques.com\/cdn\/shop\/products\/10_7QX.jpg?v=1597013293"},"aspect_ratio":1.0,"height":768,"media_type":"image","src":"\/\/www.josephcohenantiques.com\/cdn\/shop\/products\/10_7QX.jpg?v=1597013293","width":768}],"requires_selling_plan":false,"selling_plan_groups":[],"content":"\u003cp\u003eThis handsome antique Indian silver jug is covered in Kutch style repousse and chased ornamentation on a finely hammered ground. The ornamentation is precise, well planned and beautifully executed. Despite the jug’s age of approximately 130 years, all the details are still crisp and very sharp with no signs of over polishing.  The jug has good weight and has been fashioned from a heavy gauge of silver. It has a very smart and ‘well tailored’ appearance with the narrow bands of plain silver defining and framing the individual panels. To the underside of the base it bears the maker’s mark ‘O.M’ which was used by Oomersi Mawji in the early years of his career whilst operating from his original workshop in Bhuj.\u003cspan data-ccp-props='{\"201341983\":0,\"335559739\":160,\"335559740\":259}'\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe jug is covered by a hinged and stepped lid with a decorative bud finial.  The base of the finial is encircled by acanthus leaves contained within a thick rope border.  The lower part of the lid has been ornamented with a border of Kutch floral and foliate elements and finished with a narrow plain silver border. \u003cspan data-ccp-props='{\"201341983\":0,\"335559739\":160,\"335559740\":259}'\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe squared ‘C’ shaped handle is ornamented to the outer face with a ribbon of elongated flowering plant motifs between narrow plain silver and rope borders.  The spout is short, thick and upwardly curving.  All the side panels have been ornamented with artfully arranged Kutch style floral and foliate sprigs surrounded by narrow plain silver borders.\u003cspan data-ccp-props='{\"201341983\":0,\"335559739\":160,\"335559740\":259}'\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe ornamentation of the various panels has been skilfully planned to make the most effective use of the available space in order to achieve the best outcome.  Although the floral and foliate elements all appear similar, they differ widely and have been combined and arranged in a variety of different ways.  Although the overall effect is consistent, the individual panels are very different upon close examination.  One of Mawji’s great strengths was his ability to orchestrate these complex variations with great finesse in order to achieve a visually strong object;  a feat few other silversmiths could manage to emulate. \u003cspan data-ccp-props='{\"201341983\":0,\"335559739\":160,\"335559740\":259}'\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe body of the jug is supported by a plain silver pedestal foot with a corresponding plain silver rim to the top.  The scrolling floral and foliate ornament runs the whole height of the jug, contained by acanthus leaf borders to top and bottom.  Here, with the space to move, the sprigs are at their most lush, lively and joyous, the flowers are full blown and the stems arch and scroll in all directions.\u003cspan data-ccp-props='{\"201341983\":0,\"335559739\":160,\"335559740\":259}'\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eOomersi Mawji became the best known and most celebrated Indian silversmith of his generation. His first workshop was in Bhuj, Kutch, nowadays in the Gujarat region of India, and with help from the Maharaja of Kutch, he became the premier Kutch silversmith.  He signed his work in the style of this piece ‘O.M’ or ‘O.M. BHUJ’.   Later he moved to Baroda where he set up a workshop with his sons, trading as “Oomersee M and Sons, Art Silversmiths, Baroda”.  After he was appointed Royal Silversmith to the Maharaja of Kutch, he amassed a large international clientele and was renowned for his high quality, skill, fine work and exceptional design.\u003cspan data-ccp-props='{\"201341983\":0,\"335559739\":160,\"335559740\":259}'\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eMawji’s workshops were enterprising and he received many fine and important 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 European, ‘Madras swami’ and ‘Calcutta rural village’ styles. Participating in several foreign expositions, he won many prizes for his work and helped to popularise Kutch silver abroad, particularly in Great Britain.\u003cspan data-ccp-props='{\"201341983\":0,\"335559739\":160,\"335559740\":259}'\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan data-ccp-props='{\"201341983\":0,\"335559739\":160,\"335559740\":259}'\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ci\u003eProvenance:\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ci\u003eDimensions\u003c\/i\u003e\u003ci\u003e: \u003c\/i\u003eHeight 11cms; Width 10.5cms\u003cspan data-ccp-props='{\"201341983\":0,\"335559739\":160,\"335559740\":259}'\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ci\u003eWeight\u003c\/i\u003e\u003ci\u003e: \u003c\/i\u003e214 grammes\u003cspan data-ccp-props='{\"201341983\":0,\"335559739\":160,\"335559740\":259}'\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ci\u003eReferences:\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cspan data-ccp-props='{\"201341983\":0,\"335559739\":160,\"335559740\":259}'\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\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\u003cspan data-ccp-props='{\"201341983\":0,\"335559739\":160,\"335559740\":259}'\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\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\u003cspan data-ccp-props='{\"201341983\":0,\"335559739\":160,\"335559740\":259}'\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eVidya Dehejia, Delight in Design – Indian Silver for the Raj, Mapin Publishing, India 2008\u003c\/p\u003e"}