{"id":7823235711126,"title":"Extraordinary set of eleven silver spoons by Hitapa (Irapa) Buchana, based in Poona, India","handle":"extraordinary-set-of-eleven-silver-spoons-by-hitapa-irapa-buchana-based-in-poona-india","description":"\u003cp data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eExtraordinary set of eleven silver spoons by Hitapa (Irapa) Buchana, based in Poona, India\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eSilverware of exceptional merit has been produced in India for many centuries. The silversmiths of Rajasthan, Lucknow, Calcutta, Madras and Karnataka were famous for producing distinctive silver during the 13th to 17th centuries. However, the declining central power of the Mughals and the consequent political and social instability, eroded the quality of the silverware produced subsequently. During the British Raj (1858 to 1947), stability returned, and the silversmiths flourished again, benefitting from the patronage of high-ranking British officials, the military, rich traders, aristocrats and the like, along with the local Sardars or Nobles, Rajas and Maharajas. These people had the financial means to acquire high end luxury artistic creations in large quantities and the silversmiths provided them. Both British and local patrons gave expensive commissions to reputed silversmiths as silver artifacts were prized as a display of wealth and show of power. They were also conservation pieces which, like these spoons, were crafted with stories at the heart of them. The Indian Royalty presented such silverware to the Imperial rulers and their leading representatives.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eIn the Bombay Presidency, it was the city of Poona (Pune), which became famous as a silver manufacturing centre, producing goods of superior quality from about 1860 to 1935. Poona was where this set of eleven exquisitely crafted spoons was executed by Hitapa (or Irappa) Buchana. Hitapa was one of the two best known Poona (Pune) silversmiths. He successfully exhibited his works at the Delhi International Exhibition of 1903 and at many other important exhibitions during the late 19th century. Hitapa’s magnificent displays of silverware received an enthusiastic reception by the British press, creating a new market for his silver which quickly became known as a premium product, acquiring celebrity status and a loyal following. Some similar sets made by Hitapa were even imported for the British home market by British jewellers such as B. Arnold, Jeweller and Silversmith of 72 Baker Street, London. Before being offered for sale, the spoons would have been placed in a velvet lined leather-bound presentation case which would have been duly monogrammed as the purchaser specified.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eFinally, this superb set of eleven uniquely designed spoons is of far superior workmanship to the numerous poorly cast and mass-produced sets which were offered by other, even leading, Indian silversmiths at around this time.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eThe photo below shows how Buchana marked his silverware. The maker’s mark is in the local Devanagari script which states ‘Irappa’ and this mark appears on the stems of all the spoons. One spoon also has a stamp in English with the initials HBG, which stands for ‘Hitapa Buchana Goldsmith’, along with the Devanagari script maker’s mark and a picture of this set of marks is shown.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eAll eleven spoons comprising this stunning set are individual and different from the rest. They each have a striking figurative finial. The figures on the finials represent interesting Indian mythological stories in which this particular character\/s, plays a part. Individually designed ornament has also been placed in two other areas: along the stems of the spoons and to the fronts and backs of the bowls of the spoons. For example, one stem may have floral motifs interspersed with geometric motifs. No two stems have been ornamented in the same way. The stem broadens as it leads towards the finial where it forms a dais or platform for the figure to stand upon. Ornamentaion such as acanthus leaves surround the dais. The bowls of the spoons have been ornamented to both sides with, for example, naturalistic bunches of flowers, leaves and fronds.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe semi cylindrical stems of the spoons widen as they approach the finials, providing a lotus shaped dais, which supports the standing deity or sage. The figures have been exceptionally finely crafted and exhibit exceptional craftsmanship. Some are dynamic and full of energy, others peaceful and reflective. They show a wide range of facial expressions and body types, even abnormalities and physical defects.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis set of spoons is unusual in that it comprises eleven spoons. However, only an odd number would allow the silversmith to have a single figural spoon as the focus of the set, with the remaining ten split and displayed as five spoons ranged at either side of the focus spoon. Such an effect would not be achievable had he opted for the more usual set of six or twelve presentation spoons.\u003c\/p\u003e","published_at":"2023-10-09T15:28:51+01:00","created_at":"2023-10-09T15:28:51+01:00","vendor":"Joseph Cohen Antiques","type":"Extraordinary set of eleven silver spoons by Hitapa (Irapa) Buchana, based in Poona, India","tags":["Indian Silver"],"price":0,"price_min":0,"price_max":0,"available":false,"price_varies":false,"compare_at_price":null,"compare_at_price_min":0,"compare_at_price_max":0,"compare_at_price_varies":false,"variants":[{"id":42784807288982,"title":"Default Title","option1":"Default Title","option2":null,"option3":null,"sku":"JC-EXTR-07164","requires_shipping":true,"taxable":true,"featured_image":null,"available":false,"name":"Extraordinary set of eleven silver spoons by Hitapa (Irapa) Buchana, based in Poona, India","public_title":null,"options":["Default Title"],"price":0,"weight":0,"compare_at_price":null,"inventory_management":"shopify","barcode":"","requires_selling_plan":false,"selling_plan_allocations":[]}],"images":["\/\/www.josephcohenantiques.com\/cdn\/shop\/files\/DSCN6472.jpg?v=1696861733","\/\/www.josephcohenantiques.com\/cdn\/shop\/files\/DSCN6461.jpg?v=1696861734","\/\/www.josephcohenantiques.com\/cdn\/shop\/files\/DSCN6455.jpg?v=1696861734","\/\/www.josephcohenantiques.com\/cdn\/shop\/files\/DSCN6453.jpg?v=1696861734","\/\/www.josephcohenantiques.com\/cdn\/shop\/files\/DSCN6449.jpg?v=1696861734"],"featured_image":"\/\/www.josephcohenantiques.com\/cdn\/shop\/files\/DSCN6472.jpg?v=1696861733","options":["Title"],"media":[{"alt":null,"id":27707159642262,"position":1,"preview_image":{"aspect_ratio":1.333,"height":3000,"width":4000,"src":"\/\/www.josephcohenantiques.com\/cdn\/shop\/files\/DSCN6472.jpg?v=1696861733"},"aspect_ratio":1.333,"height":3000,"media_type":"image","src":"\/\/www.josephcohenantiques.com\/cdn\/shop\/files\/DSCN6472.jpg?v=1696861733","width":4000},{"alt":null,"id":27707159675030,"position":2,"preview_image":{"aspect_ratio":1.333,"height":3000,"width":4000,"src":"\/\/www.josephcohenantiques.com\/cdn\/shop\/files\/DSCN6461.jpg?v=1696861734"},"aspect_ratio":1.333,"height":3000,"media_type":"image","src":"\/\/www.josephcohenantiques.com\/cdn\/shop\/files\/DSCN6461.jpg?v=1696861734","width":4000},{"alt":null,"id":27707159707798,"position":3,"preview_image":{"aspect_ratio":1.333,"height":3000,"width":4000,"src":"\/\/www.josephcohenantiques.com\/cdn\/shop\/files\/DSCN6455.jpg?v=1696861734"},"aspect_ratio":1.333,"height":3000,"media_type":"image","src":"\/\/www.josephcohenantiques.com\/cdn\/shop\/files\/DSCN6455.jpg?v=1696861734","width":4000},{"alt":null,"id":27707159740566,"position":4,"preview_image":{"aspect_ratio":1.333,"height":3000,"width":4000,"src":"\/\/www.josephcohenantiques.com\/cdn\/shop\/files\/DSCN6453.jpg?v=1696861734"},"aspect_ratio":1.333,"height":3000,"media_type":"image","src":"\/\/www.josephcohenantiques.com\/cdn\/shop\/files\/DSCN6453.jpg?v=1696861734","width":4000},{"alt":null,"id":27707159773334,"position":5,"preview_image":{"aspect_ratio":1.333,"height":3000,"width":4000,"src":"\/\/www.josephcohenantiques.com\/cdn\/shop\/files\/DSCN6449.jpg?v=1696861734"},"aspect_ratio":1.333,"height":3000,"media_type":"image","src":"\/\/www.josephcohenantiques.com\/cdn\/shop\/files\/DSCN6449.jpg?v=1696861734","width":4000}],"requires_selling_plan":false,"selling_plan_groups":[],"content":"\u003cp data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eExtraordinary set of eleven silver spoons by Hitapa (Irapa) Buchana, based in Poona, India\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eSilverware of exceptional merit has been produced in India for many centuries. The silversmiths of Rajasthan, Lucknow, Calcutta, Madras and Karnataka were famous for producing distinctive silver during the 13th to 17th centuries. However, the declining central power of the Mughals and the consequent political and social instability, eroded the quality of the silverware produced subsequently. During the British Raj (1858 to 1947), stability returned, and the silversmiths flourished again, benefitting from the patronage of high-ranking British officials, the military, rich traders, aristocrats and the like, along with the local Sardars or Nobles, Rajas and Maharajas. These people had the financial means to acquire high end luxury artistic creations in large quantities and the silversmiths provided them. Both British and local patrons gave expensive commissions to reputed silversmiths as silver artifacts were prized as a display of wealth and show of power. They were also conservation pieces which, like these spoons, were crafted with stories at the heart of them. The Indian Royalty presented such silverware to the Imperial rulers and their leading representatives.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eIn the Bombay Presidency, it was the city of Poona (Pune), which became famous as a silver manufacturing centre, producing goods of superior quality from about 1860 to 1935. Poona was where this set of eleven exquisitely crafted spoons was executed by Hitapa (or Irappa) Buchana. Hitapa was one of the two best known Poona (Pune) silversmiths. He successfully exhibited his works at the Delhi International Exhibition of 1903 and at many other important exhibitions during the late 19th century. Hitapa’s magnificent displays of silverware received an enthusiastic reception by the British press, creating a new market for his silver which quickly became known as a premium product, acquiring celebrity status and a loyal following. Some similar sets made by Hitapa were even imported for the British home market by British jewellers such as B. Arnold, Jeweller and Silversmith of 72 Baker Street, London. Before being offered for sale, the spoons would have been placed in a velvet lined leather-bound presentation case which would have been duly monogrammed as the purchaser specified.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eFinally, this superb set of eleven uniquely designed spoons is of far superior workmanship to the numerous poorly cast and mass-produced sets which were offered by other, even leading, Indian silversmiths at around this time.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eThe photo below shows how Buchana marked his silverware. The maker’s mark is in the local Devanagari script which states ‘Irappa’ and this mark appears on the stems of all the spoons. One spoon also has a stamp in English with the initials HBG, which stands for ‘Hitapa Buchana Goldsmith’, along with the Devanagari script maker’s mark and a picture of this set of marks is shown.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eAll eleven spoons comprising this stunning set are individual and different from the rest. They each have a striking figurative finial. The figures on the finials represent interesting Indian mythological stories in which this particular character\/s, plays a part. Individually designed ornament has also been placed in two other areas: along the stems of the spoons and to the fronts and backs of the bowls of the spoons. For example, one stem may have floral motifs interspersed with geometric motifs. No two stems have been ornamented in the same way. The stem broadens as it leads towards the finial where it forms a dais or platform for the figure to stand upon. Ornamentaion such as acanthus leaves surround the dais. The bowls of the spoons have been ornamented to both sides with, for example, naturalistic bunches of flowers, leaves and fronds.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe semi cylindrical stems of the spoons widen as they approach the finials, providing a lotus shaped dais, which supports the standing deity or sage. The figures have been exceptionally finely crafted and exhibit exceptional craftsmanship. Some are dynamic and full of energy, others peaceful and reflective. They show a wide range of facial expressions and body types, even abnormalities and physical defects.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis set of spoons is unusual in that it comprises eleven spoons. However, only an odd number would allow the silversmith to have a single figural spoon as the focus of the set, with the remaining ten split and displayed as five spoons ranged at either side of the focus spoon. Such an effect would not be achievable had he opted for the more usual set of six or twelve presentation spoons.\u003c\/p\u003e"}