PROBABLY JAIPUR, NORTH INDIA, CIRCA 1900

The technique of enamelling onto gold in India has its origins in the opulent Mughal court of the 17th century. This technique gives the enamelled colours a brilliant and rich glow. An early example of enamelling on gold can be found in the Hermitage (inv. V3-726; Mark Zebrowski, Gold, Silver and Bronze from Mughal India, London, 1997, no. 52, p. 71). The intricate figural decoration on our present vessel suggests a later date of production however. The lid is decorated with eleven male deities; its reverse with the Zodiac around a rare diagram of the solar system. The sides of the bowl are decorated with the personification of the seven planets, above a register with lively scenes from an epic. The impressive floral composition on the underside is an excellent example of the technical mastery achieved by Rajasthani goldsmiths. A number of preparatory drawings from Jaipur showing related figural decoration are in the Victoria and Albert Museum and dated to the second half of the 19th century (IS.26-1992 and IS.194-1952). See also S.S. Jacob & T.H. Hendley, Jeypore Enamels, New Delhi, 2008, pl.8 and 9 which illustrate designs from the mid-1880s. Jewellery with Hindu iconography is rare but not unknown as seen for instance on a necklace decorated with Vishnu’s footprint and offered at Christie’s, London, 10 June 2015, lot 48. A gold box with figural enamelled decoration and a cup and saucer, both from Jaipur and related to the present piece, sold at Christie’s, London, 10 April 2014, lot 165 and 157.