Centrepiece
Mortimer and Hunt
Category
Silver
Date
Unknown
Materials
Silver
Measurements
927 mm (Height)
Order this imageCollection
Charlecote Park, Warwickshire
NT 534007
Summary
Silver centrepiece by Mortimer and Hunt, (John Mortimer and James Samuel Hunt). Silver centrepiece sitting on a three-sided decorative base with elephants’ heads forming the corners. One side of the base features a long inscription dated November 1842, another features a coat of arms and the last shows a scene of three women filling pitchers. A large palm tree with branches of various sizes forms the main section of the centrepiece. A coiled serpent sits at the very top of the palm tree while three male figures in traditional dress (believed to be merchant princes) are standing at the base. They are holding various items including a sword and books. One foot is inscribed 'Mortimer and Hume'. The centrepiece was given to Thomas Williamson in 1842 by the inhabitants of the Provinces under the Presidency of Bombay for his work as a humane administrator. Presented to Thomas Williamson Esquire by the inhabitants of the provinces under the Bombay presidency. The Sirdars (native chiefs) of the Deccani and the principal native merchants and others of Bombay in token of their respect, esteem and gratitude for the ability, zeal and success with which during an official career of twenty three years as a servant of the honourable company especially while filing the high and responsible office of revenue commissioner and secretary to the government. He labored to develop the resources of the country to improve the condition thereby to render British rule in Indie a blessing establishing at the same time a lasting claim on the people as a friend and benefactor. November 1842.
Provenance
Bequeathed to the National Trust by Sir Brian Fulke Cameron-Ramsay-Fairfax-Lucy, 5th Bt. (1898-1973) in 1974.
Marks and inscriptions
(One of the feet inscribed) Mortimer and Hume 1224. Inscribed with 'PRESENTED TO THOMAS WILLIAMSON ESQUIRE BY THE INHABITANTS OF THE PROVINCES UNDER THE BOMBAY PRESIDENCY. THE SIRDARS (NATIVE CHIEFS) OF THE DECCANI AND THE PRINCIPAL NATIVE MERCHANTS AND OTHERS OF BOMBAY IN TOKEN OF THEIR RESPECT, ESTEEM AND GRATITUDE FOR THE ABILITY, ZEAL AND SUCCESS WITH WHICH DURING AN OFFICIAL CAREER OF TWENTY-THREE YEARS AS A SERVANT OF THE HONOURABLE COMPANY ESPECIALLY WHILE FILLING THE HIGH AND RESPONSIBLE OFFICES OF REVENUE COMMISSIONER AND SECRETARY TO THE GOVERNMENT. HE LABOURED TO DEVELOP THE RESOURCES OF THE COUNTRY TO IMPROVE THE CONDITION OF THE PEOPLE AND TO PROMOTE THEIR BEST INTERESTS EMINENTLY CONDUCING THEREBY TO RENDER BRITISH RULE IN INDIA A BLESSING ESTABLISHING AT THE SAME TIME A LASTING CLAIM ON THE PEOPLE AS A FRIEND AND BENEFACTOR. NOVEMBER 1842.'
Makers and roles
Mortimer and Hunt, creator