Scrolling foliage covers the entire surface of this container, only interrupted by a small empty shield on the front, a charging boar on the reverse, and a blooming lotus on the base. It was probably used to hold cheroot (a type of cigar popular in Burma and India). The mark “O.M”, indicates that it was made by Oomersi Mawji, a silver firm active in Kutch from the 1860s to 1930s. Oomersi Mawji silver is known for the distinctive addition of animal and human figures to the densely scrolling foliage that was otherwise characteristic of Kutch silver. During British colonial rule in India (1858-1947) Indian silversmiths adopted a new manner of decorating objects intended for European use. The form and function catered to colonial taste, but the exterior surfaces conspicuously displayed indigenous motifs. Kutch silver appears to have been the most admired of Indian silver styles during this period. Well-defined floral designs and a lack of obvious ethnic specificity probably contributed to its wider appeal in comparison with other regional silver styles, and large amounts were exported to Britain.
