Colonial Indian Silver Case by Oomersi Mawji

This well-made silver case is by the well known 19th century Indian silversmith Oomersi Mawji.

It is chased in high relief on all sides. On one side are two elephants, one with its trunk around the head of another. And on the other, is an elephant fighting with a lion, and two dog-like creatures attacking a boar. This is all amid a scrolling flower and leaf pattern associated with Kutch silverwork.

The box has an applied plaque inside with a well-cut cameo punch for ‘O.M’ and ‘Bhuj’ of a type that Wilkinson (1999, p. 90) is found on earlier work and is associated with Oomersi Mawji himself and so dates to the period c. 1860-1890.

Possibly intended as a clutch purse, it sits well in the hand, and is too large to be a visiting card case. It might also have been used to hold cheroots.

Wilkinson (1999, p. 72) illustrates a similar but later case by Oomersi Mawji & Sons.

The example here is in excellent condition.