Pair of Anglo-Indian Silver-Clad Ceremonial Throne Chairs

Pair of Anglo-Indian Silver-Clad Ceremonial Throne Chairs
Rajkot, Kathiawar (present-day Gujarat), Late 19th Century
Chairs: Height 160/159cm, width 76/74cm, depth 69cm
Stools: Height 23cm, width 52cm, depth 42cm
 
Created in the late 19th century in Rajkot, one of Kathiawar’s प्रमुख silversmithing centres, this remarkable pair of ceremonial throne chairs embodies the opulence and symbolic authority of princely India. Commissioned for the Jasdan court, the chairs reflect a refined synthesis of Indian royal tradition and European decorative influence characteristic of Anglo-Indian craftsmanship of the period.
Each chair is constructed from a wooden frame entirely clad in repoussé, chased, and gilded silver. The armrests are sculpted in the form of lions, evoking strength and sovereignty, while the surfaces are richly adorned with foliate and geometric ornament executed with exceptional precision. Pierced cresting rails rise above the backs, incorporating elaborate heraldic compositions that blend Indian iconography—such as the solar emblem and crossed swords, denoting lineage and martial power—with a distinctly European heraldic structure.
 
Inscriptions further reinforce the chairs’ courtly provenance. The Gujarati inscription “જસદણ દરબાર” (Jasdan Darbar) identifies the ruling court, while the Devanagari motto “कीर्ति समान अवर न धन कोउ” translates to “There is no wealth equal to fame or glory,” expressing an ideal that places honour above material riches. An additional Gujarati inscription records the Rajkot workshop responsible for their manufacture, attesting to their origin within a leading regional atelier.

Though conceived as a harmonious pair, each chair exhibits subtle variations in its heraldic and decorative detailing, highlighting the bespoke nature of their craftsmanship.
The original pink velvet upholstery, once enriched with silver-wrapped thread, now shows wear consistent with age and use, and offers the opportunity for careful restoration if desired.

Accompanied by their matching silver-clad footstools, finely worked en suite, this impressive set represents a masterful example of Anglo-Indian ceremonial furniture—combining sculptural presence, intricate metalwork, and rich symbolic language in a form of exceptional decorative impact.