20th Jun, 2024 11:00
Arts of India and the Islamic Lands
73
A TANJORE STANDING PORTRAIT OF A SHAIVA BHAKTI SAINT, POSSIBLY A TAMIL NAYANAR
Thanjavur (Tanjore), Tamil Nadu, South India, early to mid-19th century
A TANJORE STANDING PORTRAIT OF A SHAIVA BHAKTI SAINT, POSSIBLY A TAMIL NAYANAR
AN EYE FOR DETAIL: PROPERTY FROM A PRIVATE ESTATE IN NORTHERN LONDON
Thanjavur (Tanjore), Tamil Nadu, South India, early to mid-19th century
Opaque pigments, white wash, gold leaf and sukka (limestone paste) on wood, the large vertical-format composition portraying a standing Hindu saint clad in a typical plain white hermit cloth, his forehead marked with the white and red tripundra, the Shaivite tilaka worn by Shiva's devotees, the saint possibly one of the Nayanars, 63 Tamil Hindu saints living during the 6th to 8th centuries AD devoted to the Hindu god Shiva, the four most well-known also called Nalvars, and remembered as Appar, Sundarar, Sambandar, and Manikkavacakar, set against a solid bold red ground, the portrait encased by a lobed golden arch with green curtains resting on slender golden columns, the gold leaf architectural frame studded with square red glass beads replicating rubies, mounted, glazed and framed, 61cm x 51cm including the frame.
Sold for £1,845
A TANJORE STANDING PORTRAIT OF A SHAIVA BHAKTI SAINT, POSSIBLY A TAMIL NAYANAR
AN EYE FOR DETAIL: PROPERTY FROM A PRIVATE ESTATE IN NORTHERN LONDON
Thanjavur (Tanjore), Tamil Nadu, South India, early to mid-19th century
Opaque pigments, white wash, gold leaf and sukka (limestone paste) on wood, the large vertical-format composition portraying a standing Hindu saint clad in a typical plain white hermit cloth, his forehead marked with the white and red tripundra, the Shaivite tilaka worn by Shiva's devotees, the saint possibly one of the Nayanars, 63 Tamil Hindu saints living during the 6th to 8th centuries AD devoted to the Hindu god Shiva, the four most well-known also called Nalvars, and remembered as Appar, Sundarar, Sambandar, and Manikkavacakar, set against a solid bold red ground, the portrait encased by a lobed golden arch with green curtains resting on slender golden columns, the gold leaf architectural frame studded with square red glass beads replicating rubies, mounted, glazed and framed, 61cm x 51cm including the frame.
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
