Description
A circular, one and a half-pint, vase-shaped silver teapot or aftaba (water pot), set upon a collet foot, with slender C-shaped silver handle formed by the body of a snake with curled tail. The hinged, circular domed lid is embellished with a lotus-bud finial and the upper body and head of the snake continuing up to the finial from the hinge. The mid-section of the teapot/aftaba body is chased in an Arabesque pattern of ordered panels containing stylized representations of poppies, coriander and leaves beneath cusped arches with dividing columns; above and below are bands of scrolling foliage in a Mosaic pattern. The foot, lid and spout are similarly decorated with scrolling flowers and foliage, those on the spout being divided into panels.
The teapot, lid and foot are all made of the same heavy-gauge silver; there are no identifying maker’s marks but the silver is probably of .916 (Rupee silver) standard.
Dimensions & Weights
Width (spout tip to handle): 23.5 cm / 9 ¼ ins;
Height (to top of finial): 24 cm / 9 ½ ins
Capacity: 850 ml / 1 ½ pint
Weight (teapot & lid): 781 gm / 25.1 ozT
