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Lot Essay
These bottles are from a known group sometimes called case bottles or gin bottles - their shape recalling that of taller German and Dutch bottles that were held within a fitted box. (Stefano Carboni,Glass from Islamic Lands: The Al-Sabah Collection, Kuwait National Museum, London, 2001, p.389).
In his discussion of a group of three of these bottles in the Al-Sabah Collection in Kuwait, Stefano Carboni remarks on a close Dutch connection with this type of bottle. Dutch influence remained strong in Gujarat well into the 18th century, and several other examples are capped by a Dutch coin that was minted to identify produce imported from abroad (Stefano Carboni, op.cit., pp.388-90, cat.106a-c).
Carboni recounts that a Gujarati craftsman named Ram Singh Malam had learnt his glassmaking skills during three separate trips to Europe, the first being to the Netherlands, and was encouraged by Maharao Lakha, the ruler of Kutch (r.1741-1760), to open a glassmaking factory in the town of Bhuj on his return (Carboni, 2001, p.389).
It is unclear whether the glass was imported from Europe, but it is accepted that the decoration of these bottles is purely of Indian origin. The combination of European glass technique, Chinese design in the landscape scenes, and Indian execution of the painting is an indication of the important role India played in the world sea trade at this period.
A set of six bottles, very similar to three of the present examples was sold at Christie's, London, 7 October 2008, lot 230.
In his discussion of a group of three of these bottles in the Al-Sabah Collection in Kuwait, Stefano Carboni remarks on a close Dutch connection with this type of bottle. Dutch influence remained strong in Gujarat well into the 18th century, and several other examples are capped by a Dutch coin that was minted to identify produce imported from abroad (Stefano Carboni, op.cit., pp.388-90, cat.106a-c).
Carboni recounts that a Gujarati craftsman named Ram Singh Malam had learnt his glassmaking skills during three separate trips to Europe, the first being to the Netherlands, and was encouraged by Maharao Lakha, the ruler of Kutch (r.1741-1760), to open a glassmaking factory in the town of Bhuj on his return (Carboni, 2001, p.389).
It is unclear whether the glass was imported from Europe, but it is accepted that the decoration of these bottles is purely of Indian origin. The combination of European glass technique, Chinese design in the landscape scenes, and Indian execution of the painting is an indication of the important role India played in the world sea trade at this period.
A set of six bottles, very similar to three of the present examples was sold at Christie's, London, 7 October 2008, lot 230.