The oval bowl, the urn-shaped stem and domed foot, are all gadrooned.
The enamel mounts are decorated with strapwork and arabesques in white, black, red and blue; the whole enriched with pearls and table-cut diamonds and rubies in collets.
The mounts to the bowl and stem are in Moghul style; the foot is of European origin and probably Milanese, 8.9cm high.
This ornate standing bowl was intended as much for decoration as for use, but may have featured on a wealthy lady’s dressing table.
It appears in the 1690 Devonshire Schedule, the inventory of an enormous bequest from Elizabeth, Countess of Devonshire (1619-1689), to her daughter Anne, Countess of Exeter (1649-1703).
This lists under ‘Gold Things’: ‘An Agat wrought Cupp and Cover upon a high ffoot sett with Diamonds, Rubies and pearles’.
The cover is now missing.
