NORTH INDIA, PROBABLY LATE 15TH CENTURY OR LATER

The form of these finials is directly comparable to stone finials which surround the dome of a late 15th-century tomb located in Jaunpur, (Bianca Maria Alfieri, Islamic Architecture of the Indian Subcontinent, London, 2000, p. 101). The Sharqi Sultanate, which ruled from Jaunpur from 1394-1479 AD, was renowned for its harmonious relations between Muslims and Hindus. This encouraged new hybrid forms in architecture influenced by both Hindu and Islamic traditions. The current excellent condition of these finials is a testament to their remarkable survival; it is possible that these finials were copied at a later date from a model such as the stone originals on the tomb.