20th Jun, 2024 11:00
Arts of India and the Islamic Lands
183
λ AN UNMARKED BRITISH COLONIAL BURMESE REPOUSSÉ SILVER COFFEE POT
Rangoon, Burma (Myanmar), ca. 1900 - 1915
λ AN UNMARKED BRITISH COLONIAL BURMESE REPOUSSÉ SILVER COFFEE POT
Rangoon, Burma (Myanmar), ca. 1900 - 1915
Of pyriform shape, resting on four sloping feet designed as lion paws surmounted by demonic masks, rising to a cylindrical neck, the hinged dome-like lid embellished with a detachable cast finial designed as a traditionally clad Burmese female dancer in a side bend stance, the sides featuring a cast handle with ivory insulators formed by a backward-bent female figure, possibly an apsara, wearing an ornate, tall headdress, and an upward-curved spout with a mythical Hintha duck head and a demon's mask on the bird's chest, the exterior profusely decorated with a variety of chased and repoussé figural and vegetal motifs comprising scenes from Burmese folklore, possibly inspired by the great Ramayana epic and the kidnapping of Rama's beloved, Sita, by the demonic King Ravana, mythical temple lions (chinthe) and deer amidst vegetation, interlocking vegetal trellis, acanthus sprays, and lush foliage, unmarked, 28cm high, 1428gr.
For two similar examples attributed to Rangoon and dated between 1907 and 1913, please see the British Museum Collection (acc. no. 2002,1008.1) and Chiswick Auctions, 3 March 2022, lot 93. Despite minor variations, all these coffee pots seem to share the same design, form, and selected repertoire of standard decorative motifs, such as ogres, warriors, maidens, and Ramayana characters, typical of Burmese mythological story-telling. They also often bear dedicatory inscriptions in English, proving that they were mostly commissioned as colonial exotica wares for the export market and not for internal consumption.
λ This item may require Export or CITES licences in order to leave the UK. It is the buyer's responsibility to find out and conform to the specific export requirements of their country and ensure that lots have the relevant licences before shipping.
Sold for £2,952
λ AN UNMARKED BRITISH COLONIAL BURMESE REPOUSSÉ SILVER COFFEE POT
Rangoon, Burma (Myanmar), ca. 1900 - 1915
Of pyriform shape, resting on four sloping feet designed as lion paws surmounted by demonic masks, rising to a cylindrical neck, the hinged dome-like lid embellished with a detachable cast finial designed as a traditionally clad Burmese female dancer in a side bend stance, the sides featuring a cast handle with ivory insulators formed by a backward-bent female figure, possibly an apsara, wearing an ornate, tall headdress, and an upward-curved spout with a mythical Hintha duck head and a demon's mask on the bird's chest, the exterior profusely decorated with a variety of chased and repoussé figural and vegetal motifs comprising scenes from Burmese folklore, possibly inspired by the great Ramayana epic and the kidnapping of Rama's beloved, Sita, by the demonic King Ravana, mythical temple lions (chinthe) and deer amidst vegetation, interlocking vegetal trellis, acanthus sprays, and lush foliage, unmarked, 28cm high, 1428gr.
For two similar examples attributed to Rangoon and dated between 1907 and 1913, please see the British Museum Collection (acc. no. 2002,1008.1) and Chiswick Auctions, 3 March 2022, lot 93. Despite minor variations, all these coffee pots seem to share the same design, form, and selected repertoire of standard decorative motifs, such as ogres, warriors, maidens, and Ramayana characters, typical of Burmese mythological story-telling. They also often bear dedicatory inscriptions in English, proving that they were mostly commissioned as colonial exotica wares for the export market and not for internal consumption.
λ This item may require Export or CITES licences in order to leave the UK. It is the buyer's responsibility to find out and conform to the specific export requirements of their country and ensure that lots have the relevant licences before shipping.
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
