This handle for a flywhisk was made in India, probably in the 18th century. The cup was intended to hold a yak's tail, and such flywhisks traditionally indicated divinity or royalty. As such, they were held above sacred images or near royal figures. They were among the essential attributes of Hindu kings, and served the same purpose in the Muslim courts of the subcontinent as they did in later Sikh courts. The handle of this example has been fashioned in three parts from nephrite jade, a hard and durable material that requires patience and skill to work. Although it is a hard material, when it has been worked to give fine edges or thicknesses, it can be prone to damage by sharp impacts. The spiralling ribs of the stem are remarkably even, indicating the work of a highly skilled craftsman. The function of the object, the materials used, and the level of workmanship, all suggest that this would have been made for a person of some means or importance.
This was bought by the museum from William Tayler, and was supposed to have come from Lucknow. Tayler was educated in England at Charterhouse and also spent a term at Christ Church, Oxford. He entered service with the East India Company on 30th April 1829, arriving in India in October of the same year. He held various posts in Bengal and was appointed Commissioner of Patna in 1855. During his service, he was able to acquire many objects, including hardstones, relating to the customs and religions of India as well as objects from other parts of South Asia. He was criticised for his handling of the uprisings in Northern India and was moved to a lesser post before being suspended, ultimately resigning on 29th March 1859. He then practised as an advocate in the law courts of Bengal before returning to England in 1867. He wrote a book about his experiences, entitled Thirty-eight Years in India in which he states that "After my return to England, circumstances induced me, though with great reluctance, to part with the collection which is now in the South Kensington Museum".