Silver-Gilt and Enamelled Opium Cup and Cover

India (Lucknow), 19th century

Height: 6.1 cm
Diameter: 4.1 cm

A small silver-gilt and enamelled opium cup and cover, of rounded form with gently curving sides, with a design of poppies and serrated leaves enamelled in green and blue. The design is contained within six petal cartouches evenly spaced around the cover, with the lobed ruby-set finial mimicking the central part of a rosette. Blue enamelled petals surround the lip to the cover’s edge. The cup itself has similar enamelled designs, more freely treated, the leaves curling round the flowers in leafy arabesque scrolls. Fern leaves in green and gold surround the bottom of the cup, mirroring the leaves on the conical base with their traces of original blue enamel.

Provenance:

The Pierre Jourdan-Barry Collection, Paris