Courtesy of Miya.m, Wikimedia Commons

"The biggest silver thing I have ever seen..."

These words caught my eye, as I took a last look at my parents' National Geographics. I have the dubious distinction of being the sibling selected to clear out the estate. The concept of "the biggest" intrigued me as I read of a pair of water jugs made in India in 1902. Easily diverted from my task, I decided to do further research. Sure enough, the Guinness Book confirms that these objects are the largest in silver.

They stand in the Maharaja of Jaipur's City Palace, and were made for his grandfather, Madho Singh II, traveling with him to England for the coronation of Edward VII. Each jug (Gangajalis) carried 1,800 gallons of drinking water from the Holy River Ganges. Weighing in at 690 pounds per urn, they stand 5'3" and are each 14'10" around. Crafted by silversmiths Govind Ram and Madhar, more than 20,000 ounces of pure silver were used in their production, obtained from over 14,000 coins. Made without soldering or seams, the jugs are smooth and polished both inside and outside.

India acquired vast stores of silver coinage in the past, through trade with mainly European countries, for tea, spices, and silks. India is still a place where silver is hoarded as a primary investment, mainly by millions of peasants who can't afford gold. (D.H.)