3-034-746 - The Print Collector/Heritage Images

Plate given to the Royal Engineers by Indian engineer officers, 1871. 'General Sir John Cheape, in the name of the Engineer officers formerly in the Hon. East India Company's service, presented to the Royal Engineers' Mess a piece of plate as a token of the union of the two corps, amalgamated in 1862, and as a pledge of brotherly goodwill. It is a tazza upon a silver base...Upon the foot...are representative figures of England and India, having between them shields containing the arms of the Royal Engineers and of the East India Company's Engineers. The body of the tazza is enriched by a frieze, which represents figures of Victory wreathing laurel around medallion portraits of distinguished Engineers...It is surmounted by a figure of Victory. The ornamentation is Indian, elaborately wrought, the surface being entirely covered. The base is of embossed silver, with Indian ornament, and contains reliefs of "The Breach at the Cashmere Gate, "Delhi," and of "Seringapatam," and panels with the inscriptions and a list of the most celebrated sieges and military operations in which the corps of Indian Engineers has taken part. This plate has been manufactured by Messrs. Hancock and Co., Bruton-street. It was designed by Mr. H. H. Armstead, sculptor'. From "Illustrated London News", 1871.