ONE CUP AND COVER WITH MAKER'S MARK OF EDWARD, EDWARD JUNIOR, JOHN AND WILLIAM BARNARD, LONDON, 1829, THE OTHER CUP AND ONE STAND WITH MAKER'S MARK OF HAMILTON AND CO., CALCUTTA, CIRCA 1850

JUDITH BANISTER NOTES IN HER ARTICLE ON THE EMES AND BARNARD LEDGERS (THE PROCEEDINGS OF THE SOCIETY OF SILVER COLLECTORS, VOL.II, P.169), THAT THIS FORM OF CUP AND COVER, A 'WAVY SHELLS' CUP, WAS 'OF A PATTERN PARTICULARLY POPULAR IN INDIA'. THE CALCUTTA FIRM OF HAMILTON AND CO., WHOSE MARKS APPEAR ON ONE OF THE CUPS, COVERS AND STANDS, WERE IMPORTANT CLIENTS OF BARNARD'S AND THE NAME OF THEIR AGENT IN LONDON, THORPE, APPEARS IN MANY OF THE ACCOUNTS. HAMILTON AND CO. WAS FOUNDED BY ROBERT HAMILTON (CIRCA 1772-1847) IN 1811, ALTHOUGH HIS INTEREST IN THE FIRM CAME TO AN END IN 1817, HAVING RETURNED TO ENGLAND IN 1812. THE FIRM CONTINUED WITH NEW PARTNERS, RETAINING THE NAME. IT WAS ONE OF THE MOST SUCCESSFUL OF THE INDIAN COLONIAL SILVERMITHS AND PRODUCED PIECES OF FINE QUALITY. AS JUDITH BANISTER HAS POINTED OUT, THEY SUPPLEMENTED THE LOCALLY PRODUCED PIECES WITH LONDON-MADE WORK WHICH THEY EXPORTED AND OFTEN STAMPED WITH THEIR OWN MARKS. THESE PRESENT CUPS, COVERS AND STANDS ARE ALMOST CERTAINLY FROM THIS GROUP. HAMILTON'S REPUTATION FOR HIGH QUALITY PIECES MUST HAVE RELIED TO QUITE AN EXTENT ON THE LONDON MANUFACTURERS' SKILLS. PRODUCED FOR THE LEADING BARRISTER JAMES HOGG, HAMILTON LOOKED TO THEIR LONDON SUPPLIERS FOR THESE SOPHISTICATED AND GRAND CUPS.