The Property of
THE LORD ELPHINSTONE
The dessert service contained in the following six lots was presented to the Hon. William Fullerton Elphinstone (1740-1834). He joined the East India Company at the age of 17, spending almost 70 years in the Company's employ. He rose through the ranks, joining the Court of Directors in the 1780's and becoming Chairman of the Court of Directors on three separate occasions, in 1804, 1806 and 1814, an unusual occurrence. He finally retired in 1826 and the age of 85. His knowledge and experience of Indian affairs was considered unrivalled. He was the father of Major General William Elphinstone, commander of the ill-fated Afghan expedition of 1841, and uncle of Mountstuart Elphinstone, Governor of Bombay and an Indian historian. The present dessert service was given to him on his retirement in 1826.
The technique of the dessert service is unusual. While centres such as Lucknow, Jaipur and Bikaner are all known for their enamels, they all use polychrome enamelling to create their designs. The present technique seems closer related to the works usually attributed to Patabgarh, although it was also produced in Indore and Rutlam. These are typified by flat glass surfaces (ususally green although sometimes red) into which are inlaid thin sheet metal designs which are further chased (Stronge, S., Smith, N and Harle, J.C.: A Golden Treasury, Jewellery from the Indian Subcontinent, London 1989, nos.119-121, pp.105-107). It is notable that this type of decoration was produced for Europeans rather than for the native market, although, in contrast to the present service, it is invariably executed on a small scale. In this service, that technique has been reversed. The plain copper body has been overlaid with a pierced design in thin sheet silver which has been further chased. Subsequent to this the entire surface has been covered with a plain green enamel, making the design appear a clear light green, while the combination of the green enamel with the red copper body ensures the background appears nearly black.
A PAIR OF INDIAN ENAMELLED GILT COPPER FOOTED BOWLS each of shallow rounded form with everted lip, separately cast handles at each side engraved with scrolling floral designs, decorated under the plain green enamel surface with fine dense silver scrolling flowering and palmette vine, between gold and silver overlaid lobed and palmette borders, each side also overlaid with the armorial of William Elphinstone, circa 1826 (various chips to enamels)
Details
A PAIR OF INDIAN ENAMELLED GILT COPPER FOOTED BOWLS each of shallow rounded form with everted lip, separately cast handles at each side engraved with scrolling floral designs, decorated under the plain green enamel surface with fine dense silver scrolling flowering and palmette vine, between gold and silver overlaid lobed and palmette borders, each side also overlaid with the armorial of William Elphinstone, circa 1826 (various chips to enamels)
12½in. (32cm.) diam. (2)
12½in. (32cm.) diam. (2)