NORTH AND CENTRAL INDIA, 18TH/19TH CENTURY

Details

A RUBY-INSET GOLD AND BRASS ELEPHANT GOAD (ANKUS)
NORTH AND CENTRAL INDIA, 18TH/19TH CENTURY
The gold shaft with rounded knop and long handle with bands of inset rubies, the associated makara head attached with a screw joint with an extended trunk and point rising from the head above, the tip of the faceted point and the curved prong issuing from the mouth rendered in silver-damascened decorated steel
22½in. (57.2cm.) long

Special notice

Items which contain rubies or jadeite originating in Burma (Myanmar) may not be imported into the U.S. Please be advised that a purchasers inability to import any such item into the U.S. or any other country shall not constitute grounds for non-payment or cancellation of the sale. With respect to items that contain any other types of gemstones originating in Burma (e.g., sapphires), such items may be imported into the U.S., provided that the gemstones have been mounted or incorporated into jewellery outside of Burma and provided that the setting is not of a temporary nature (e.g., a string).

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Lot Essay

For another gemset elephant goad (ankus) dated to the late 19th century see Usha R. Bala Krishnan and Meera Sushil Kumar, Dance of the Peacock, Jewellery Traditions of India, Mumbai, 2010, cat.171, p.120-121. Described as ‘a fine example of royal opulence’, it was probably used during state processions.

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