Two fine Mughal lacquer tortoiseshell and ivory mounted wood cabinet drawers Gujarat, 17th Centuryeach of rectangular form, mounted to the front with tortoiseshell on a ground of gold leaf, the smaller with painted birds and floral motifs, stepped ivory borders, gilt copper handles, the sides decorated in polychrome and gilt on a red ground with lions and deer on a ground of floral interlace to the smaller drawer, the larger drawer with a mounted prince with falcon and attendant on a ground of floral interlace to one side, and a seated ruler with musician and attendant on a ground of floral interlace to the other, the backs with a tree and floral spray the larger drawer 16 x 8.5 x 9.5 cm.(2)FootnotesGujarati craftsmen often incorporated shell in their practice, utilising not only mother-of-pearl, but other materials such as tortoiseshell, as demonstrated in the present lot. A 17th Century cabinet from Gujarat including drawers with similar tortoiseshell and ivory components is in the Asian Civilisations Museum, Singapore, (Accession No. 2011-01508). Painted scenes are also featured on our drawers, the programme of decoration exemplifying the Mughal preoccupation with nature and the hunt, subjects that were represented within a myriad of crafts from metalwork to carpets and clothing. The present lot is particularly notable due to the incorporation of such decorative schemes on their sides, which would have been obscured the majority of the time. This form of decoration is thus more commonly found on the exterior of cabinets and boxes. An example of a Gujarati lacquered box from the 17th Century is in the David Collection, Copenhagen (29/2014). A further example of a Mughal painted cabinet is in the Victoria & Albert Museum, London (IS 142-1984).
Two fine Mughal lacquer tortoiseshell and ivory mounted wood cabinet drawers Gujarat, 17th Centuryeach of rectangular form, mounted to the front with tortoiseshell on a ground of gold leaf, the smaller with painted birds and floral motifs, stepped ivory borders, gilt copper handles, the sides decorated in polychrome and gilt on a red ground with lions and deer on a ground of floral interlace to the smaller drawer, the larger drawer with a mounted prince with falcon and attendant on a ground of floral interlace to one side, and a seated ruler with musician and attendant on a ground of floral interlace to the other, the backs with a tree and floral spray the larger drawer 16 x 8.5 x 9.5 cm.(2)FootnotesGujarati craftsmen often incorporated shell in their practice, utilising not only mother-of-pearl, but other materials such as tortoiseshell, as demonstrated in the present lot. A 17th Century cabinet from Gujarat including drawers with similar tortoiseshell and ivory components is in the Asian Civilisations Museum, Singapore, (Accession No. 2011-01508). Painted scenes are also featured on our drawers, the programme of decoration exemplifying the Mughal preoccupation with nature and the hunt, subjects that were represented within a myriad of crafts from metalwork to carpets and clothing. The present lot is particularly notable due to the incorporation of such decorative schemes on their sides, which would have been obscured the majority of the time. This form of decoration is thus more commonly found on the exterior of cabinets and boxes. An example of a Gujarati lacquered box from the 17th Century is in the David Collection, Copenhagen (29/2014). A further example of a Mughal painted cabinet is in the Victoria & Albert Museum, London (IS 142-1984).
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.jpg "Source: Christie's")
.jpg "Source: Christie's")
