20th Jun, 2024 11:00
Arts of India and the Islamic Lands
121
A FINELY CARVED SANDALWOOD JEWELLERY CASKET WITH WILD ANIMALS AND A VILLAGE SCENE
Mysore, Karnataka, Southern India, 19th century
A FINELY CARVED SANDALWOOD JEWELLERY CASKET WITH WILD ANIMALS AND A VILLAGE SCENE
Mysore, Karnataka, Southern India, 19th century
Of rectangular shape, resting on a sloping, pedestal-like, narrow base, surmounted by a detached casket lid with curved, sloping sides and a large rectangular field in the centre, the exterior intricately and profusely carved with both figural and animal decoration, each side of the body featuring a large rectangular panel with naturalistically rendered jungle scenes with wild animals including deer, tigers, lions, monkeys, elephants, bears, and gazelles, all set amidst lush vegetation including fruit-bearing and blossoming trees, palms, and jungle shrubs, framed within concentric decorative borders with beaded bands and rosette roundels, the lid decorated with a rural jungle scene inhabited by various villagers attending their daily chores, one on a boat steering down a riptide, their thatched roof huts getting lost in the middle of the lush vegetation livened by several wild animals, around the edges a scrolling vegetal meandering with fleshy leaves and the same concentric decorative borders of the body, the interior plain except for the purple velvet lining of the lid, 15.7cm x 23.5cm x 17.5cm.
The shape and design of the present casket echo the upper section of traditional Mysore sandalwood dowry boxes. These boxes were usually resting on projecting makara feet and large stepped pedestals with narrow drawers and were surmounted by caskets like ours. The set aimed to replicate the architectural design of Kannada temples (gudi), and was a beloved object in the dowry of every Indian bride from this region. Both Tamil Nadu and Karnataka were renowned for their intricately carved sandalwood creations, often bought and commissioned alike by Western travellers as souvenirs from those distant lands, but Mysore Gudigars (carpenters) were considered by far the most experienced in the art of sandalwood carving.
For a specimen of a complete Mysore sandalwood dowry chest, please see Chiswick Auctions, 29 April 2022, lot 25. Several similar caskets have successfully been offered in the London auction market in the last fifteen years, please see Bonhams London, 19 April 2007, lot 427; and Christie's London, 10 June 2013, lot 286; 10 October 2014, lot 102; and more recently 25 May 2017, lot 86.
Sold for £1,476
A FINELY CARVED SANDALWOOD JEWELLERY CASKET WITH WILD ANIMALS AND A VILLAGE SCENE
Mysore, Karnataka, Southern India, 19th century
Of rectangular shape, resting on a sloping, pedestal-like, narrow base, surmounted by a detached casket lid with curved, sloping sides and a large rectangular field in the centre, the exterior intricately and profusely carved with both figural and animal decoration, each side of the body featuring a large rectangular panel with naturalistically rendered jungle scenes with wild animals including deer, tigers, lions, monkeys, elephants, bears, and gazelles, all set amidst lush vegetation including fruit-bearing and blossoming trees, palms, and jungle shrubs, framed within concentric decorative borders with beaded bands and rosette roundels, the lid decorated with a rural jungle scene inhabited by various villagers attending their daily chores, one on a boat steering down a riptide, their thatched roof huts getting lost in the middle of the lush vegetation livened by several wild animals, around the edges a scrolling vegetal meandering with fleshy leaves and the same concentric decorative borders of the body, the interior plain except for the purple velvet lining of the lid, 15.7cm x 23.5cm x 17.5cm.
The shape and design of the present casket echo the upper section of traditional Mysore sandalwood dowry boxes. These boxes were usually resting on projecting makara feet and large stepped pedestals with narrow drawers and were surmounted by caskets like ours. The set aimed to replicate the architectural design of Kannada temples (gudi), and was a beloved object in the dowry of every Indian bride from this region. Both Tamil Nadu and Karnataka were renowned for their intricately carved sandalwood creations, often bought and commissioned alike by Western travellers as souvenirs from those distant lands, but Mysore Gudigars (carpenters) were considered by far the most experienced in the art of sandalwood carving.
For a specimen of a complete Mysore sandalwood dowry chest, please see Chiswick Auctions, 29 April 2022, lot 25. Several similar caskets have successfully been offered in the London auction market in the last fifteen years, please see Bonhams London, 19 April 2007, lot 427; and Christie's London, 10 June 2013, lot 286; 10 October 2014, lot 102; and more recently 25 May 2017, lot 86.
Auction: Arts of India and the Islamic Lands, 20th Jun, 2024
After much anticipation, Azca Auctions is delighted to announce their inaugural sale, Arts of India and the Islamic Lands, taking place on Thursday 20th June at 11.00am BST.
The sale comprises over 250 lots showcasing the extraordinary diversity and celebrating the artistic craftsmanship of South, Southeast and Central Asia, as well as the Iranian plateau, the Middle East all the way to the Mediterranean shores.
This longed-for, inaugural auction opens with a remarkable Northern London private collection of Indian artefacts, previously unseen in the market. “An Eye for Detail” is meant to illustrate not only the artistic achievements and talents of Indian craftsmen, but also the multi-faceted cultural and religious reality the Indian Subcontinent managed to foster and keep alive throughout centuries. Three generations of collecting collide into a very personal, subjective and unusual selections of tools, vessels, paintings, accessories, photographs and decorative lots that range from £150 to £6,000 GBP, offering a chance to both seasoned buyers and new collectors to make their pick.
Following the private collection selection, the remaining 150 lots are divided between the Arts of South Asia and the Arts of the Islamic Lands, two worlds that, despite their substantial geographic distances, have always been tightly interlinked. Among the highlights, one can count a selection of eight official courtly album portraits of Mughal Emperors (lot 164); a large Qajar polychrome-painted moulded pottery tile with a banquet scene replicating the Safavid frescoes of the Chihil Sotun Palace in Isfahan (lot 206); and lastly, an elegant and intact 16th-century Ottoman Iznik plate with saz leaves and arabesques (lot 262).
Dive into a world of wonders and for any specific query, please do not hesitate to contact our Head of Department, Beatrice Campi at beatrice@azcaauctions.com. We look forward to hearing from you.
Viewing
Viewing will take place at the following address:
Metro Building, 8th Floor
1 Butterwick
London, W6 8DL
