Lot Essay
The tradition of inlaying mother-of-pearl into carved polished black stone is well-known from sixteenth century Bidar, under the Barid Shahi dynasty. Ali Barid Shahi of Bidar (1542-80) built the Rangin Mahal (the Royal Pavilion) which included mother-of pearl inlaid scrolling arabesques and inscriptions on the inner doorway (Yazdani, G.: Bidar - History and Monuments, Hyderabad 1947, pls. XIII and XIV). Yazdani mentions specifically the highly polished nature of the black stone. the mouldings on the present mortar can also be compared with those of a Lady's tomb, commonly known as the tomb of Chand Sultana, also in
Bidar (Yazani: op.cit, pl.CXI). Both this latter tomb and the
present mortar have very strong architectural elements incorporated
from larger structures. The proportions of the arches on the cover of the mortar are very similar indeed to those used in the Rangin Mahal.
The use of extensive arcading in this period in Bidar is a continuation of the traditions started by the Bahmanids in the same area, where the madrasa of Mahmud Ghawan of 1472 for example has a similar arrangement of a large central arch flanked by three (tiers of) vertical smaller arches at each side (Merklinger, E.S.: Indian Islamic Architecture - The Deccan 1347-1686, Warminster 1981, fig.41, p.35). Here again, typically for Bidar, the arches do not spring from pillars, rising instead in a single flat-sided sweep from the ground.
By tradition this mortar belonged to a prominent family of miniaturists who could trace their origins back as painters to the period of Akbar and Jehangir. The mortar was used for mixing the minerals for the various colours required, with the arched compartments on the lid forming a palette of cloisons for the colours once they had been ground together.
Bidar (Yazani: op.cit, pl.CXI). Both this latter tomb and the
present mortar have very strong architectural elements incorporated
from larger structures. The proportions of the arches on the cover of the mortar are very similar indeed to those used in the Rangin Mahal.
The use of extensive arcading in this period in Bidar is a continuation of the traditions started by the Bahmanids in the same area, where the madrasa of Mahmud Ghawan of 1472 for example has a similar arrangement of a large central arch flanked by three (tiers of) vertical smaller arches at each side (Merklinger, E.S.: Indian Islamic Architecture - The Deccan 1347-1686, Warminster 1981, fig.41, p.35). Here again, typically for Bidar, the arches do not spring from pillars, rising instead in a single flat-sided sweep from the ground.
By tradition this mortar belonged to a prominent family of miniaturists who could trace their origins back as painters to the period of Akbar and Jehangir. The mortar was used for mixing the minerals for the various colours required, with the arched compartments on the lid forming a palette of cloisons for the colours once they had been ground together.