A mother-of-pearl powder horn

INDIA, GUJARAT, 17TH/18TH CENTURY

Details

A mother-of-pearl powder horn
India, Gujarat, 17th/18th century
Formed from a nautilus shell with a cylindrical register around the top composed of mother-of-pearl applied in an arcaded design, the top with a rosette motif leading to a knop finial with silver stopper, with metal loop attached to the body
9 in. (22.8 cm.)

Provenance

Private Collection, New Hampshire, before 1988
Private Collection, Boston

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Lot Essay

Found in the Indian and Pacific oceans, the natural shiny and iridescent surface of nautilus shells made a vivid impression on 16th and 17th century collectors in the West. Objects made with this material were highly prized Kunstkammen collector pieces. Two similar powder horns were sold at Christie's London, 7 October 2008, lot 262.

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