Page 86 - 2021 April 1, ART OF THE ISLAMIC AND Indian Worlds Including Oriental Rugs, Christie's London

~69
A GEM-SET CARVED JADE MIRROR AND ORIGINAL IVORY CASE
NORTH INDIA, LATE 18TH CENTURY
The back of the mirror decorated with floral designs, the back, handle and top inlaid with rubies and white
stones set in gold, the ivory case heavily worked with floral motifs
8 x 4Ωin. (20 x 11.5cm.) including case
£15,000-20,000 US$22,000-28,000
€18,000-23,000
The green jade case of this mirror is carved with elegant symmetrical flowering plants accented with
inset diamonds. Jade working is an exceptionally time-consuming process that requires a great deal of
skill due to the hard and brittle nature of the stone. Highly skilled artisans of the Mughal Empire carved
works like this example from jade that they then inset with precious gems. These objects, decorated
with floral motifs favoured by the Mughal elite, were often exchanged as gifts and portrayed in use in
contemporaneous Mughal miniatures. This mirror is complete with a finely carved ivory case decorated
with dense floral designs that echo the jade carving of the mirror. A comparable carved jade Mughal
mirror of a slightly earlier date sold at Christie’s, New York, 19 June 2019, lot 370.

84 In addition to the hammer price, a Buyer’s Premium (plus VAT) is payable. Other taxes and/or an Artist Resale Royalty
fee are also payable if the lot has a tax or λ symbol. Check Section D of the Conditions of Sale at the back of this catalogue.