Silver vase taken from the Kabul Residency, 1879

The gutted ruins of the British Residency in Kabul were investigated by General Frederick Roberts' troops in October 1879. 'The Residency was looted so thoroughly that not even a peg has been left in the walls', reported the 'Times' correspondent. Further exploration turned up personal effects in the rubble. This vase had a label attached to it inscribed 'Cavagnari, Cabul, Afghanistan Sept 3rd 1879 from Residency'. The stem of the vase has been damaged, presumably during the Afghan attack.