A MUGHAL ROCK-CRYSTAL FLASK

NORTH INDIA, 1650-1700

Details

A MUGHAL ROCK-CRYSTAL FLASK
NORTH INDIA, 1650-1700
Original gold collar and stopper, the body set with rubies and emeralds in finely scalloped gold kundan
3 5/8 ins. (9.2 cm.) high; 2 1/8 ins. (5.5 cm.) diam.

Literature

Jaffer 2013, p.30, no.7

Exhibited

Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York 2014, pp.32-33
Victoria and Albert Museum, London 2015, p.81, no.36
The Miho Museum, Koka 2016, p.93, no.63
Grand Palais, Paris 2017, p.143, no.109
The Doge’s Palace, Venice 2017, p.164, no.109
The Palace Museum, Beijing 2018, p.190, no.113
de Young Legion of Honor, San Francisco 2018, p. 78, no. 24

Brought to you by

Rahul Kadakia

rkadakia@christies.com +1 212 636 2300

Lot Essay

This bottle is made in two hemispherical parts held together by the inlaid gold wire mesh surrounding it. This technique would have allowed an easier process for the craftsmen as opposed to carving and hollowing the bottle from a single block of brittle rock crystal. Such small bottles could have been used to hold perfume but also lime, a key ingredient to betel chewing, an important element of life at the Mughal court.
Please also see the following lot for a closely related flask.

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