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Lot Essay
The form of the present bottle is immediately reminiscent of the Clive flask sold in these Rooms 27 April 2004, lot 156. Yet the construction is completely different. Where that had a silver body which was then sheathed in jade panels, the present bottle is made of the solid stone, with the body being ground out on the interior, an incredibly laborious job to perform through the very small aperture at the base of the neck. In all it is made of three pieces. The body is very cleverly joined to the shoulder hidden by a thin band of gold. The third section is the neck, which continues down to and including the boss. All three sections are of the white jade so prized by the Mughals.
The shape is very close to various metal examples, most notably in its lack of a foot to one in the Clive Collection (Robert Skelton et al, The Indian Heritage, Court Life and the Arts under Mughal Rule, London, 1982, no 485, p.143; Mildred Archer, Christopher Rowell and Robert Skelton, Treasures from India, the Clive Collection at Powys Castle, London, 1987, no.92, pp.76-7). This, like that, also has a provenance going back to one of the leading British figures in the East India Company's history.
The shape is very close to various metal examples, most notably in its lack of a foot to one in the Clive Collection (Robert Skelton et al, The Indian Heritage, Court Life and the Arts under Mughal Rule, London, 1982, no 485, p.143; Mildred Archer, Christopher Rowell and Robert Skelton, Treasures from India, the Clive Collection at Powys Castle, London, 1987, no.92, pp.76-7). This, like that, also has a provenance going back to one of the leading British figures in the East India Company's history.