20th Jun, 2024 11:00
Arts of India and the Islamic Lands
163
A STANDING PORTRAIT OF NAWAB SAFDAR JANG, GOVERNOR OF AWADH (1708 – 1754)
Awadh (Oudh), Mughal Northern India, second half 18th century
A STANDING PORTRAIT OF NAWAB SAFDAR JANG, GOVERNOR OF AWADH (1708 – 1754)
Awadh (Oudh), Mughal Northern India, second half 18th century
Opaque pigments, ink, and gold on paper, the vertical-format portrait depicting the Nawab of Awadh, Safdar Jang, a major political figure during the declining years of the Mughal Empire, standing on a riverside terrace of a palatial compound, holding a letter or official document in his right hand, wearing an elegant Persianate hunting coat with fur lining and floral embroidery on a golden ground, dressed in the typical attire reserved for elite members of the Mughal court, shown in profile as expected for official Mughal courtly portraits commissioned from the Shah Jahan period onwards, on the opposite riverbank in the background a large procession with elephants and troops, set within concentric dark blue, taupe, and gold-sprinkled brown borders, and purple and white rules, the top with an identifying inscription in black ink nasta'liq script within a red-lined cloudband reading 'Portrait of the deceased Nawab Safdar Jang', mounted, glazed and framed, 41.5cm x 35.5cm.
Provenance: Bonhams London, New Bond Street, 5 April 2011, lot 271.
A STANDING PORTRAIT OF NAWAB SAFDAR JANG, GOVERNOR OF AWADH (1708 – 1754)
Awadh (Oudh), Mughal Northern India, second half 18th century
Opaque pigments, ink, and gold on paper, the vertical-format portrait depicting the Nawab of Awadh, Safdar Jang, a major political figure during the declining years of the Mughal Empire, standing on a riverside terrace of a palatial compound, holding a letter or official document in his right hand, wearing an elegant Persianate hunting coat with fur lining and floral embroidery on a golden ground, dressed in the typical attire reserved for elite members of the Mughal court, shown in profile as expected for official Mughal courtly portraits commissioned from the Shah Jahan period onwards, on the opposite riverbank in the background a large procession with elephants and troops, set within concentric dark blue, taupe, and gold-sprinkled brown borders, and purple and white rules, the top with an identifying inscription in black ink nasta'liq script within a red-lined cloudband reading 'Portrait of the deceased Nawab Safdar Jang', mounted, glazed and framed, 41.5cm x 35.5cm.
Provenance: Bonhams London, New Bond Street, 5 April 2011, lot 271.
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
