Burmese silver tea set consisting of a teapot with a kylin finial, angular handle and swan-neck spout; a milk jug with a wide spout and scroll handle; a sugar basin with two scroll handles. All embossed and chased with scenes of Burmese life, animals and foliage; the sugar bowl depicting sama jataka, one of the stories (jatakas) of the past lives of the Buddha On a tray with pierced sides and two loop handles.

The sugar bowl and jug depict stories (jatakas) relating the past lives of the Buddha. The sugar bowl relates sama jataka; the jug shows vessantara jataka, the account of how Buddha in his penultimate incarnation perfected the virtue of generosity as the compassionate prince, Vessantara, who gave away everything he owned - including a white elephant, his wife and his children.

The teapot is decorated with a band of vegetation interspersed with mythical creatures, a decorative style which was popular in the 1920s and 1930s. Floral motifs include acanthus - which was introduced to the region from Europe - and lotus, which together characterised many of the designs of the colonial period. 

The tray incorporates foliage and flowers, as well as a peacock opening its feathers, a symbol of the Konbaung dynasty.