Sterling Silver Quaich decorated in the Niello style in Baghdad for presentation to the Chieftain of the Caledonian Society of Iraq, in 1932.

The engravings show typical river scenes from the Tigris and Euphrates, including rivercraft, and Marsh Arabs' distinctive reed housing (on the other side). The recipient was an Advisor to King Ghazi, and responsible for civil works on the Tigris and Euphrates, navigational channels and bridges, etc. The quaich was made in Sheffield in 1932 by Martin Hall and Co Limited, in their Shrewsbury works, and is numbered 5973 on its base.
It is fiendishly difficult to photograph silver to avoid reflections. In this case, I stood it on a large white surface and stood well back and level with it. The curve of the bowl reflected the white surface it was standing on, and in this insatance, highlighted the dark Niello work.
For more information on the Niello process:
www.ganoksin.com/borisat/nenam/nillo-work-10-1.htm ( www.ganoksin.com/borisat/nenam/nillo-work-10-1.htm )