Page 82 - Bonhams Indian and Himalayan Art September 2013
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A portrait of Shah Jahan A portrait of a soldier A scene from a bhavagata purana: Matsya
India, 19th/20th century Deccan, 19th century preparing to slay Shankhasura
Opaque watercolor, gesso and gold on paper; Ink and wash on paper; standing with a spear Kashmir, 19th century
standing on an orb above balanced scales and resting on his right shoulder and left arm on his Opaque watercolor, gold, and silver on paper;
the lion and lamb resting together in harmony, large shield with sword behind. Matsya, the first avatar of Vishnu, rises from
with radiant nimbus contemplating the large Folio: 9 7/8 x 5 3/4 in. (25 x 14.4 cm) the waters to vanquish the demon Shankhasura
spinel, three cherubs present the emperor’s $1,000 - 1,500 emerging from a conch, four men seated on a
sword, crown, and parasol. lotus symbolizing the vedas venerate Vishnu; the
9 x 5 1/4 in. (22.8 x 13.2 cm) 116 frame and verso with nasta’liq calligraphy.
$1,000 - 2,000 An equestrian portrait of a nawab of Lucknow Image: 5 5/8 x 3 3/8 in. (14.2 x 8.5 cm); Folio: 9
Lucknow (Oudh), circa 1850 1/2 x 5 3/8 in. (24 x 13.5 cm)
This portrait is likely based on an early 17th Opaque watercolor and gold on paper; the $800 - 1,200
century album page now in the Freer Sackler ruler presented in sumptuous robes on a fine
(F1939.49a). The composition is a play on his piebald steed. Provenance:
title ‘King of the World’ showing the lion and Image: 10 3/4 x 8 in. (27.2 x 20.3 cm); Folio: 14 Private East Coast collection
lamb in peaceful coexistence under his just rule. x 9 5/8 in. (35.7 x 24.5 cm) Acquired from Spencer Samuels & Co., New
$3,000 - 5,000 York, 1969
Provenance:
Property deaccessioned from the Gibbes “Late eighteenth and nineteenth-century Oudh, 118
Museum of Art, Charleston, South Carolina with its capital at Lucknow, was an Indian A black nilgai buck
Gift of Colonel Charles Blackmon mixture of today’s Tehran, Monte Carlo, and Las North India, early 19th century
(1975.005.0057) Vegas, with just a touch of Glyndebourne for Opaque watercolor and gold on paper; nasta’liq
A World War II era stamp on the reverse reads: good measure. Although a series of Company calligraphy on verso; tethered with a holster and
Passed By Examiner US Army Base 1812 officers and Residents (after 1773) tried to keep wearing a string of bells against a green ground
the Nawabs in hand, they seldom succeeded, and clouded sky.
113 for the vastly rich, imaginatively sensual, selfish, Folio: 7 1/8 x 5 in. (18 x 13 cm)
A portrait of Humayun childish, yet often generous Nawabs were $1,500 - 2,500
India, early 19th century untamable” (Cary Welch, Room for Wonder,
Opaque watercolor and gold on paper; the New York, 1978, p. 34). 119
second Mughal emperor enthroned underneath An illustrated Shahnamah
the gold and jewel encrusted parasol, thin Though preserving all the trappings and Kashmir, 19th century
foliate arabesques in gold embellish the golden finery embodying Lucknow’s belle 4to (325 x 200mm). Original gilt cloth
cushions, patka (sash), rug, and borders, epoque, this dandyish prince looks outward at binding. With 57 opaque watercolor on paper
while the strands of his fur collar are carefully us with an unsettling mixture of uncertainty illustrations depicting scenes from the Persian
delineated by the artist’s hand. and trepidation in his features. His piebald epic by Abu’l Qasim Firdausi (circa 935-1020
Image: 7 3/4 x 4 1/4 in. (19.6 x 10.7 cm) horse bends its head in exhaustion, and CE). Hinges lacking, damage to spine, cloth
$2,000 - 3,000 leaves a trail of spittle on the grass below, covers rubbed, and many pages warped.
leaving us with the curious impression that $3,000 - 5,000
Portraits of the great Mughal emperors were the forces of the Lucknow Nawabs have been
produced long after the fall of the empire, often spent. Indeed, this may even be a youthful Provenance:
catering to interest from the British in the 19th portrait of Wajid Ali Shah, last of the Lucknow Property deaccessioned from the Gibbes
century. This composition is closely related to Nawabs. Wajid Ali Shah (r. 1847-56) was most Museum of Art, Charleston, South Carolina
an early 17th century portrait now in the Freer unfortunate to have ascended the throne at Gift of Colonel Charles Blackmon (1975.005.0059)
Sackler Gallery (F1939.48b). a time when the East India Company was A World War II era stamp on the reverse reads:
determined to annex prosperous Oudh, which Passed By Examiner US Army Base 1812
Provenance: was popularly known as the garden, granary,
Property deaccessioned from the Gibbes and queen-province of India. Wajid Ali Shah
Museum of Art, Charleston, South Carolina himself was so extravagant and indolent that
Gift of Colonel Charles Blackmon to this day his name is regarded by many
(1975.005.0056) in India as synonymous with decadence;
A World War II era stamp on the reverse reads: even during his time, he was branded “a
Passed By Examiner US Army Base 1812 monster of debauchery, profligacy and vice”.
In 1856, the British conspired with hostile
114 elements at his court, pensioned him off for
A portrait of a nobleman incompetence, and exiled him to Calcutta for
Persian or Deccan 18th century the rest of life. This was one of the factors
Opaque watercolor and gold on paper; leaning which led to the Indian Mutiny.
on a long staff and wearing a thick-knotted
turban, fur-trimmed brown jacket, and pale blue
jama secured by a gold sash.
6 1/8 x 3 1/4 in. (15 x 8.2 cm)
$3,000 - 5,000
Provenance:
Private Californian Collection
Acquired from Rudi Oriental Arts, New York 1970s
80 | Bonhams
