ANTIQUE INDIAN COLONIAL SILVER EWER, P ORR & SONS, MADRAS (CHENNAI), INDIA – CIRCA 1875

£2,750.00

Description

This elegant silver ewer is of historical and military interest and was made by the notable silversmiths, P Orr & Sons of Madras .
The ewer arises from a gadrooned foot with a triple stepped edge through a knopped stem to an egg shaped or ovoid body, the lower portion of the body is also gadrooned. There is an engraved band of decoration to the upper rim. The ewer has a tall squared ‘C’ shape silver handle. The lid is hinged and of dome shape, topped by an architectural finial.
A historically interesting presentation inscription has been engraved on the body.
The maker’s mark to the side of the foot reads “ORR”, and to the underside of the base, “P ORR & SONS MADRAS”.
The inscription reads:
“Presented to
Captain F P Smyly,
South Wales Borderers
October 17th 1886
by Colonel J F Caldwell
Major J J Harvey
G Bromhead V C
Captain W Heaton
R A P Clements
Q Mc K Logan
W Weallens
Lieutenant A M Sugden
J H du B Travers
J E Waterfield
H T Brooking
J Hencgan
G H Grant”
The South Wales Borderers, originally known as the Regiment of Foot, were an infantry regiment within the British Army. In India, the regiment served in the Second Sikh War (1848-49) where it suffered high casualties. Later, probably during Captain F P Smyly’s service, the regiment served in the 9th Cape Frontier War (1877–1879) in South Africa.
A second notable name on the list is Major G Bromhead, who received the Victoria Cross, the highest honour which can be given to a British soldier (hence the letters “V C” following his name). Since the Victoria Cross was instigated by Queen Victoria in 1856, only 1358 have been awarded.
He received the award for serving in the Battle of Rorke’s Drift, where 150 British soldiers defended a fort against 3,000 Zulu warriors. A total of 11 Victoria Crosses were awarded at Rorke’s Drift and it is thought that two of these, those given to Bromhead and Chard, may be unique and technically in breach of military protocol.
They were not recommended for the award by the commander in the field or by their immediate commanding officer. Instead, they were personally recommended by Lord Chelmsford who added their names to the brief report sent from Lieutenant Bromhead to Colonel Glyn, praising the action of six soldiers of ‘B’ company. Glyn forwarded the report to Chelmsford who, after adding Bromhead and Chard’s names, sent the report off to London.
Gonville Bromhead was one of the central characters in the film, ‘Zulu’, where he was played by Michael Caine.

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Product REF: 10093