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Beaker, Silver, Possibly Bhuj, Kutch, Gujarat, Western India, ca. 1880-1900.

REGISTERED ANTIQUITY – NON-EXPORTABLE ITEM.

 

Object Detail

 

The silver beaker, with its tapering cylindrical body that gently widens toward the rim, presents a graceful silhouette anchored by a plain, narrower base that ensures balance. Produced in Kutch during the nineteenth century, it exemplifies the region’s celebrated silver craftsmanship. The central frieze features a vivid hunting scene, one of the most enduring and popular motifs in Kutch silverwork. Hunters, shown both on horseback and on foot, pursue animals such as lions and wild boars, their figures animated with dynamic energy that conveys the thrill of the chase. The animals are also preying on each other.

 

The interplay of hunters, prey, and swirling vegetation transforms the surface into a lively, almost theatrical narrative. Encircling this narrative is a dense tapestry of scrolling foliage and floral arabesques that fills the negative space with rich ornament. Delicately chased blossoms emerge from curling tendrils, forming what has been described as the “flowering scroll” design—sinuous vines that coil and wind in endless, undulating patterns. This ornamental vocabulary, one of the hallmarks of Bhuj workmanship. At the rim and base, a rhythmic border of stylised leaf motifs provides visual balance.

 

The exceptional craftsmanship of such works has been closely associated with the famed Bhuj master Oomersi Mawji (O.M. Bhuj) and his workshop, active between 1860 and 1890. Patronised by rulers such as the Gaekwads and Maharao Khengarji III of Kutch, their creations gained international recognition at regional and world exhibitions. This beaker, in its intricatedesign and technical finesse, embodies the refinement and global reputation of nineteenth-century Kutch silver.

 

 

Provenance

 

From a Private Collection in Mumbai, India.

 

Condition

 

Good Condition with minor wear.

 

Dimension

 

Height – 12.9 cm / 5.05 inches

Weight – 278 grams

 

Literature Comparison

 

1.Stephen Markel, “Kutch Silver: A Study of Stylistic Sources,” Across the South of Asia: A Volume in Honor of Robert L. Brown (2020), Academia.edu, accessed September 16, 2025, https://www.academia.edu/44937343/Kutch_Silver_A_Study_of_Stylistic_Sources.

 

2.Vidya Dehejia, Delight in Design: Indian Silver for the Raj (Ahmedabad: Mapin Publishing, 2008).

 

 

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