CENTRAL INDIA, 17TH CENTURY

Details

A DECCANI PAINTED AND LACQUERED WOOD CIRCULAR BOX
CENTRAL INDIA, 17TH CENTURY
Of rounded form with separate cover, the top painted with two duck below luxuriant vegetation outlined in gold on a rich red ground, a band of meandering vine between plain stripes around the edge, the sides with similarly painted separate floral sprays and trees with occasional birds between plain stripes, the interior painted red, areas of damage and wear to decoration
4 1/8in. (10.3cm.) diam.

Special notice

No VAT will be charged on the hammer price, but VAT at 17.5% will be added to the buyer's premium which is invoiced on a VAT inclusive basis

Lot Essay

This unusual lacquer box continues a very old Indian tradition of lacquered wooden covered boxes. An example dated to the 11th-12th century, a date confirmed by carbon dating, is in the David Collection (K. von Folsach: "A number of Pigmented Wooden Objects from the Eastern Islamic World", Journal of the David Collection, I, Copenhagen, 2003, pp.73-96, particularly figs 22 and 23, pp.88-89). Not only does the present box continue a very old type, but it also is decorated, like the other one, with gold flowers together with coloured birds on a deep red ground. The style of the flowers here clearly demonstrates the Safavid influence, but it is interesting how much, consciously or unconsciously, the earlier concept has come through in the 17th century.

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