GUJURAT, INDIA, 17TH CENTURY AND LATER

Details

TWO INDO-PORTUGUESE MOTHER-OF-PEARL POWDER HORNS
GUJURAT, INDIA, 17TH CENTURY AND LATER

The turbo snail shell bodies with applied mother-of-pearl lids to the top with rosette motif; one with knop finial, the other with silver stopper; each with belt attachment loops to the body; elements replaced
7¼ in. (18.5 cm.) high, and smaller

Special notice

Prospective purchasers are advised that several countries prohibit the importation of property containing materials from endangered species, including but not limited to coral, ivory and tortoiseshell. Accordingly, prospective purchasers should familiarize themselves with relevant customs regulations prior to bidding if they intend to import this lot into another country.

Brought to you by

Adrian Hume Sayer

ahumesayer@christies.com +44 (0)20 7389 2696

Lot Essay

Demonstrating the intricate craftsmanship and exquisite ornamentation that characterise Gujarati workmanship, these flasks were used for storing gunpowder prior to the advent of the modern bullet. Typically made of impermeable materials such as horn or gourd, the use of mother-of-pearl and the rare turbo snail shell suggests the importance of these particular flasks. Found in the Indian and Pacific Oceans, the naturally shiny iridescent surface of the shells made a vivid impression on 16th and 17th-century Kunstkammer collectors.

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