Water jug made from a gauntlet acquired by Captain Stanley de Burgh Edwardes during the assault and capture of Magdala, Abyssinia, 1868

Silver, made in Abyssinia and India, 1868.

Inscribed on base: 'Abyssinian Expedition the body of this jug was a gauntlet worn by a Chief who was disarmed by Captain Stanley de B Edwardes DAQMG at the Capture of Magdala Abyssinia on Easter Sunday, 1868'.

General Sir Stanley de Burgh Edwardes (1840-1918) entered the Bombay Army in 1857, and took part in the pursuit of the rebel leader Tantia Topi during the suppression of the Indian Mutiny (1857-1859) in the following year. He served as Deputy-Assistant-Quarter-Master-General during the Abyssinian Expedition (1867-1868), participating in the assault and capture of Magdala, during the course of which he acquired the gauntlet from which this jug was later made. He was Chief Director of Transport during the 2nd Afghan War (1878-1880), and after commanding the Northern District of the Bombay Army 1887-1889, was placed on the unemployed list in 1894.