Lot Essay
This magnificent tiger-headed 'bergere' armchair, carved in solid ivory and gilt enriched, is a masterpiece of the Indian (Murshidabad) workshops, and is likely to have been commissioned in the 1780s by Mani Begum, widow of Mir Jafar, nawab of Murshidabad (d. 1765). Its elegant design, combines elements of the Vizagapatam 'English' parlour chairs and 'Burgomaster' seats of the 1760s, but its rayed 'medallion' splats reflect the 'antique' fashion of the 1770s, later popularised by Messrs. A. Hepplewhite & Co's, The Cabinet-Maker and Upholsterer's Guide, 1788. Beneath its arched shell-enriched cresting, a deity-head medallion is framed by rich fretted foliage, while the fretted arm medallions are imbricated with dolphin-scales, and framed by tiger heads emerging from spiralled column supports. The caned seat-rail, enriched with spindles in place of flutes, is likewise embellished with deity medallions set above acanthus-wrapped legs terminating in tiger paws. The medallioned form would have been introduced to India by English cabinet-makers such as Charles Rose, who opened workshops in Bengal in the early 1770s. It may have featured on some Murshidabad chairs of buffalo horn, of a type described in 1784 as 'most delicately formed' in a letter written from Bengal to his wife Mirian by Warren Hastings (d. 1818) (see Amin Jaffer, 'Tipu Sultan, Warren Hastings and Queen Charlotte: The mythology and typology of Anglo-Indian ivory furniture', Burlington Magazine, May 1999, pp. 271-281).
In 1787 Hastings himself received a pair of horn chairs, though they were 'not of the former pattern' and these featured the medallion back and spiralled arms (see Jaffer, op. cit., pp. 275 and 276). Mani Begum befriended Warren Hastings, while he served in the early 1770s as British Resident to the court at Murshidabad, the nawabi capital of Bengal. She commissioned a suite of ivory seat furniture for Mirian Hastings, which were ready for presentation in 1784, when Warren reported to his wife, who was back in England, that they were 'all of the former patterns'. In 1786 Mrs. Hastings was also presented with 'Four chairs and a very beautiful table all of ivory', which were recognised by Warren Hastings as 'of very great value'.
A remarkable collection of Indian ivory furniture was assembled by Queen Charlotte, and included items presented by Warren Hastings who had served as Governor General of India from 1773 and finally returned to England in 1785. Over forty Indian pieces featured in the sale of Queen Charlotte's collection held in these Rooms, 24-27 May 1819. And it also seems likely that she once owned an armchair, a pair to this present chair, which was sold by Charles Edward, Duke of Saxe-Coburg at Sotheby's on the 20 May 1932, lot 131. Acquired by Lady Aberconway (d. 1974) it was again sold by Lord Aberconway, in these Rooms, 9 July 1998 (lot 20).
For almost two centuries such 'tiger' chairs have been romantically associated with Tipu Sultan of Mysore, with whom Hastings had concluded the treaty of Mangalore in 1784. Known as 'The Tiger of Mysore' he was slain at Seringapatam in 1799.
In 1787 Hastings himself received a pair of horn chairs, though they were 'not of the former pattern' and these featured the medallion back and spiralled arms (see Jaffer, op. cit., pp. 275 and 276). Mani Begum befriended Warren Hastings, while he served in the early 1770s as British Resident to the court at Murshidabad, the nawabi capital of Bengal. She commissioned a suite of ivory seat furniture for Mirian Hastings, which were ready for presentation in 1784, when Warren reported to his wife, who was back in England, that they were 'all of the former patterns'. In 1786 Mrs. Hastings was also presented with 'Four chairs and a very beautiful table all of ivory', which were recognised by Warren Hastings as 'of very great value'.
A remarkable collection of Indian ivory furniture was assembled by Queen Charlotte, and included items presented by Warren Hastings who had served as Governor General of India from 1773 and finally returned to England in 1785. Over forty Indian pieces featured in the sale of Queen Charlotte's collection held in these Rooms, 24-27 May 1819. And it also seems likely that she once owned an armchair, a pair to this present chair, which was sold by Charles Edward, Duke of Saxe-Coburg at Sotheby's on the 20 May 1932, lot 131. Acquired by Lady Aberconway (d. 1974) it was again sold by Lord Aberconway, in these Rooms, 9 July 1998 (lot 20).
For almost two centuries such 'tiger' chairs have been romantically associated with Tipu Sultan of Mysore, with whom Hastings had concluded the treaty of Mangalore in 1784. Known as 'The Tiger of Mysore' he was slain at Seringapatam in 1799.