Large Gilt Monteith, 1913

Glimmering with gold, this magnificent, good sized silver-gilt punch bowl makes an impressive statement. With its removable rim and hinged lion's mask handles, this type of bowl is known as a Monteith. Around the body, five panels are engraved with British Raj inspired figures whilst the sixth bears an inscription showing an aristocratic provenance. The bowl was originally a gift from Victoria, Countess of Yarborough (widow to Charles Anderson-Pelham, 3rd Earl of Yarborough) to an “EH” with baron’s coronet and presumably given as a fiftieth birthday gift.

Originally named after late 17th century men of fashion, known as Monteiths, and famed for wearing coats with scallopped hems, these bowls are singular in having removable rims. The notched, scallop-shaped rims were originally intended to hold the foot of a wine glass whilst immersing it in iced water. The bowls later became adapted to accommodate the growing taste for drinking punch and this particular example will have been made for that purpose.

This superb piece of early 20th century silver in excellent condition and has a nice, hefty weight.