Object Description
Indian engraved silver table fountain by Oomersi Mawji & Sons
Indian, late 19th Century
Height 40cm, width 23cm, depth 21cm
This exceptional table fountain is by the celebrated Indian silversmiths Oomersi Mawji & Sons, which is regarded today as one of the finest firms in Indian history. The firm came to prominence during the nineteenth century, when it exhibited pieces at the Universelle Exposition of 1878 in Paris. Pieces by Oomersi Mawji & Sons are held in many important collections worldwide, including the V&A Museum in London.
The fountain features a bowl supported by a bird-form stem, above a bulbous body and a circular foot. The stem is wrought as a bird with a winged cherub on its back, and the silver throughout is superbly adorned with various silver working techniques, such as repoussé, engraving, and etching, all to produce a surface profusely decorated with foliage, scenes of elephants, and a whole host of other intricate designs.
The fountain is stamped ‘O.M’ for Oomersi Mawji & Sons, and marked ‘Baroda’ for the city of its production.