A Victorian novelty silver gorilla pepper pot

A Victorian novelty silver gorilla pepper pot,

by Thomas, William, Henry and Louis Dee, London 1861,

modelled as a seated gorilla holding a bent rifle, the pierced pull-off head with glass eyes, height 12.5cm, approx. weight 8.5oz.

This design may be based on a story relating to Paul du Chaillu (1837-1903) an American 19th century explorer, who, in 1856 spent three and a half years exploring a large section of the Gabon coast. On his return to New York he wrote the story of his discoveries; 'Explorations and Adventures in Equatorial Africa; with accounts of the manners and customs of the people, and of the chase of the gorilla, crocodile, leopard, elephant, hippopotamus and other animals', published by Harper Bros in 1861. He had been the first white man to see and hunt a gorilla.

One story told was of a hunting expedition and a 'Killer Gorilla'. Du Chaillu was out with a group of local guides, they split in different directions and after a while he heard the "tremendous roar of the gorilla…. instinctively we made for the spot…. the poor brave fellow who had gone off alone was lying on the ground in a pool of his own blood…beside him lay his gun, the stock broken, and the barrel bent almost double. In one place it was flattened, and it bore plainly the marks of the gorilla's teeth.....this huge gorilla thought the gun was his enemy, so he had seized it and dashed it on the ground...not satisfied, had taken it up again and given it a tremendous bite…"

For a similar three-piece set, see Bonhams, Fine Silver and Objects of Vertu, 2 July 2008, lot 211.