This exceptional antique Indian silver tea set/service consists of a teapot, cream jug and sugar bowl.
Each piece of this service has a circular rounded form onto a bracket style foot.
The surface of each piece is embellished with impressive chased interlacing and scrolling leaf decoration, incorporating multiple cartouches depicting a series of iconic Indian figures in high relief, wearing courtly and traditional dress.
The upper and lower portions of each piece are encompassed with further chased leaf decoration.
The Indian silver teapot is fitted with a domed hinged cover ornamented with further scrolling leaf decoration, incorporating bird designs, and surmounted with the original, fine and impressive cast silver finial, modelled in the form of a mythical creature.
The impressive cast silver S scroll handles are embellished with an impressive mask design, incorporated into the elevated thumbpieces.
The teapot has an exceptional cast silver spout modelled in the form of an Indian elephant's head, with the tip of the spout being the end of the trunk/proboscis.
The underside of the teapot is embellished with a contemporary engraved crossed-legged deity style figure.
The antique sugar bowl and cream jug retain the original gilded interior; this has diminished with age in a sympathetic fashion to an aesthetically pleasing mellow colour.
Maker: Unmarked
