Object Description
Antique Indian silver tea set
Indian, Late 19th Century
Smallest: Height 17cm, width 14cm, depth 7cm
Largest: Height 26cm, width 19cm, depth 10cm
Total weight: 1766g
Crafted at a time of cultural exchange and artistic innovation, this tea set captures the meeting point between long-established Indian craftsmanship and the increasing influence of European taste. Mughal-derived decorative traditions are seamlessly combined with practical Victorian forms, resulting in objects that were both luxurious and functional, intended for refined households as well as for an international clientele.
During the 19th century, Kashmir emerged as a leading centre for high-quality silverwork. Local silversmiths became known for their richly worked surfaces, favouring elaborate floral scrolls, arabesques, and finely detailed patterns that enveloped entire pieces. As British customs such as tea drinking gained popularity in India, tea and coffee services grew in demand, encouraging artisans to reinterpret Western shapes through a distinctly Indian decorative lens.
This three-piece set consists of a tall tea or coffee pot, an accompanying milk jug, and a lidded sugar bowl. All three rest on delicately pierced bases and are extensively decorated using repoussé and chasing techniques, creating rhythmic bands of scrolling foliage and stylised floral motifs. Slender, elongated spouts and sharply defined handles contrast elegantly with the rounded vessel bodies, while the domed lids are crowned with finials reminiscent of Islamic architectural forms.
Notable for its survival as a complete ensemble, the set is further distinguished by the refinement and consistency of its decoration. It represents an outstanding example of 19th-century Kashmiri silver, showcasing the technical mastery of its makers and the opulent visual appeal that continues to attract collectors and connoisseurs today.