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Lot Essay
Similar decoration of gold and ruby inlay can be seen on many attractive Mughal jade pieces that were presented as tribute or collected by the Qianlong emperor, such as the dish with floral sprays in a similar style to that on the present lot, included in the Special Exhibition of Hindustan Jade in the National Palace Museum, Taiwan, 1983, illustrated in the Catalogue, pl. 39. A green jade box and cover of comparable shape and size, carved with similar floral scrolls, is also illustrated ibid., pl. 58. Compare also a Mughal trefoil-shaped box and cover with a similar floral motif in green jade, ruby beads and gold wire, illustrated by R. Keverne, Jade, London, 1991, p. 274, fig. 2.
Mughal miniatures not only present the likenesses of maharajas and maharanis, but also give an insight into court life and the vessels and paraphernalia used by the court. A miniature painting, dated c. 1750, in the Museé Guimet, Paris, depicting a jade box like the present lot among other pieces, is illustrated by Satyajit Ray, Autres nouvelles du Bengale, on the front cover.
Mughal miniatures not only present the likenesses of maharajas and maharanis, but also give an insight into court life and the vessels and paraphernalia used by the court. A miniature painting, dated c. 1750, in the Museé Guimet, Paris, depicting a jade box like the present lot among other pieces, is illustrated by Satyajit Ray, Autres nouvelles du Bengale, on the front cover.