A FINE INDO-PORTUGUESE EMBROIDERED LINEN PANEL

WESTERN INDIA, 18TH CENTURY

Details

A FINE INDO-PORTUGUESE EMBROIDERED LINEN PANEL
WESTERN INDIA, 18TH CENTURY
Of rectangular form, embroidered on European blue-dyed linen ground, the central field decorated with a dense foliate medallion of elongated form, its centre with rows of arches, mermaids and centaurs around, the plain blue ground filled in at either corner with vases supporting figures of a paschal lamb, hounds, deer and birds of prey around, the borders heavily embroidered with meanders of composite flowers inhabited with birds and hounds, bordered with rows of arches encompassing cornucopia and floral sprays, minor wear
84½ x 64½in. (215 x 164cm.)

Brought to you by

Andrew Butler-Wheelhouse

abutler-wheelhouse@christies.com +44 (0) 20 7389 2196

Lot Essay

This fine embroidered panel with extensive Christian imagery is based in the tradition of trade between India and Portugal. Earlier embroideries of cotton chain-stitch on silk produced in Bengal for the Portuguese market were decorated with similar yet more narrative religious scenes. One this type was sold at Christie’s, South Kensington, 12 June 2014, lot 34. A border fragment on a blue cotton ground is in the Museu Nacional de Arte Antiga in Lisbon, (Embroidered Quilts from the Museu Nacional de Arte Antiga Lisboa, London, Kensington Palace, 1978).

More from Art of the Islamic and Indian Worlds

View All