This is the lower section of a parasol handle made of silver-plated copper alloy repoussé. The spring release mechanism at the top bears a monogram, nRw, in a scroll cartouche.
The repoussé decoration consists of six horizontal registers with octagonal cartouches containing standing male figures. The five upper registers appear to depict mainly generic deities, apart from what may be a depiction of Matsya, the Fish Avatar (register one), and Hanuman, the Divine Monkey, carrying the mountain of medicinal herbs (register four). The generic figures are depicted with three leg positions: legs together, feet splayed; walking sideways, upper torso twisted frontally towards viewer; and dancing in jig style. The arms of the generic figures vary; some have their arms akimbo, others are extended horizontally in various positions. Long pendant sashes grace the figures and ambiguous vertical objects that may replicate iconographic attributes flank the figures by their hands. The bottom register depicts Shiva Nataraja, Vishnu Narasimha, and Krishna Venugopala.
The handle is crafted in a distinctive south Indian metalware style called "swami" work, which was produced mainly around Chennai (formerly Madras) in the modern state of Tamil Nadu during the mid-19th to early 20th centuries. It was primarily manufactured for European consumption by P. Orr and Sons, Madras. The firm specialized in jewelry and utility items, including fine tableware, commemorative trophies, and sundry containers.
