Page 83 - 2021 April 1, ART OF THE ISLAMIC AND Indian Worlds Including Oriental Rugs, Christie's London

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A SILVER-INLAID BIDRI HUQQA BASE
DECCAN, INDIA, FIRST HALF 18TH CENTURY
Of globular form, the body ribbed vertically with each facet decorated in
different types of floral spray
6æin. (17.cm.) high
£8,000-10,000 US$12,000-14,000
€9,400-12,000
For a similar example see Sue Stronge, Bidri Ware Inlaid Metalwork From
India, 1985, London, fig. 9, pp. 46-47.

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A PAIR OF SILVER-GILT ROSEWATER SPRINKLERS
INDIA, LUCKNOW, LATE 18TH/ EARLY 19TH CENTURY
Each of tall slender form on a splayed foot, the neck in the form of two elephant
heads with trunks intertwined, the finial in the form of a multiple flower head,
each decorated in repoussé with two elaborate figures and floral motifs
Each 14¿in. (35.8cm.) high (2)
£7,000-10,000 US$9,900-14,000
€8,100-12,000
The rosewater sprinkler (gulabpash), much in vogue in the Mughal Empire
and across Islamic lands, was used to sprinkle honoured guests with
rosewater when they arrived. Jahangir (1605-27) refers in his memoirs to the
festival of the sprinkling of rosewater at the royal court, to which the present
lot was probably associated, albeit a few decades later, 'the assembly of
gulab-pashi [sprinkling of rose water] took place and has become established
from amongst customs of former days' (quoted in Mark Zebrowski, Gold,
Silver and Bronze from Mughal India, London, 1997, p.69).
A preparatory drawing for a similar sprinkler, attributed to Lucknow circa
1780-1820 is published in Linda York Leach, Paintings from India, Oxford,
1998, cat.56, p.190-1.

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