A fine Mughal ruby-set rock crystal bowl, India, 18th Century - Photo Sotheby's

of deep, eight-lobed form, decorated on the exterior with inlaid gold wire outlines and mounted rubies, featuring floral stems on each lobe, the base with a carved flowerhead; 9cm. Estimation: 25,000 - 30,000 GBP

NOTE DE CATALOGUE: This beautiful and delicate lobed bowl was carved from rock crystal and inlaid with gold in the kundan technique and set with rubies. It can be compared with two cups from the Al-Sabah Collection in the Kuwait National Museum (inv. No. LNS 208 HS and LNS 368 HS, illustrated in Keene 2001, p.33, nos. 2.6 and 2.7). This bowl also features a carved flowerhead at its centre, resembling the cover of a carved rock crystal box dated to the seventeenth century now in the Victoria and Albert Museum (inv. No. IM.330&A-1920).

Sotheby's. Arts of the Islamic World. London | 03 oct. 2012 www.sothebys.com