| Description: |
River Ganges accompanied by a rhinoceros. In 1848, Edward Law, 1st Earl of Ellenborough (1790-1871), Governor-General of India 1842-1844, was presented with a large testimonial silver service. Executed by the artists Frank Howard (1805-1866) and Alfred Brown working for the jewellers firm of Hunt and Roskell, it included two ornaments for the ends of the table representing the rivers Indus and Ganges. The latter is accompanied by a rhinoceros said to be “most admirably executed. It was, we believe, taken from a living model, and such care was used to secure accuracy, that a cast of the skin was made to obtain a correct resemblance of its texture” (Allen's Indian Mail 1848-02-22). Parts of the service were exhibited in Crystal Palace during the Great Exhibition of 1851 (Anon. 1851b) and illustrated in the guide-book (Anon. 1852c). (Detail from The Crystal Palace and its Contents, 17 February 1852, p. 296). |
Crystal Palace 1852 Ellenborough
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