Antique Indian Colonial Silver Crossbelt Plate, The Calcutta Scottish Regiment, circa 1920

An Indian Colonial (Calcutta) silver military Crossbelt Plate comprising a Saltire with ribbed texture, ensigned with an Imperial Crown and surmounted by an armorial achievement, set centrally within a rectangular open frame, the long sides formed of entwined thistles and lotuses tied with a ribbon, the top and bottom formed by the words “CALCUTTA” and “SCOTTISH”, each on a scroll. The three separate main components are mounted upon a plain, slightly domed, rectangular backing plate and secured with locking pins through integral lugs. The backing plate reverse is mounted with two robust, silver, mushroom-headed lugs and two bent necktie-shaped pins, enabling fixture to the crossbelt.

The silver is of a good gauge and probably of sterling standard. The backing plate carries the maker’s mark HAMILTON&CO CALCUTTA stamped on the reverse.

The armorial achievement, being the arms of the City of Calcutta granted in Dec 1896, consists of a shield: Per chevron (Or and Sable), a lion passant guardant (Gules) between two palm trees eradicated in chief (Vert) and a ship under sail in base (Argent); crest: Issuant out of an eastern crown, a sea-lion holding in the dexter paw a lotus flower leaved and slipped (Proper); supporters: On either side a representation of an adjutant bird holding in the beak a serpent (Proper) (not shown: charged on the shoulder with an Eastern Crown Or); and motto: PER ARDUA STABILIS ESTO.