Mughal Empire

Mansur, Turkey cock, Mughal Empire, ca. 1612. Opaque watercolour and gold on paper. Bequeathed by Lady Wantage, IM.135-1921. © Victoria and Albert Museum, London 2017. Sur le marché, un camelot propose pour deux pièces d’argent un oiseau aux merveilleuses couleurs, rouge, vert, jaune, bleu.— Et surtout, il parle, précise le marchand dans son boniment. Il est capable de répéter tout ce qu’on lui dit. Achetez l’oiseau des îles ! Qui veut l’oiseau des îles ?Toute la matinée, cette rareté... [Lire la suite]

Mirror in the Form of a Leaf, India, Mughal empire, circa 1675-1700. Light green nephrite jade; rock crystal with traces of gilding. Jade: 6 1/2 x 3 5/8 x 1/8 in. (16.51 x 9.21 x .32 cm). From the Nasli and Alice Heeramaneck Collection, Museum Associates Purchase (M.84.32.2) © LACMA Bibliography: - Rosenfield, John.  The Arts of India and Nepal: The Nasli and Alice Heeramaneck Collection.  Boston:  Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, 1966. - Pal, Pratapaditya, Thomas W. Lentz, Sheila R.... [Lire la suite]

Opium Spoon, India, Mughal empire, circa 1675-1725. White nephrite jade, 4 1/4 x 1 x 1/4 in. (10.8 x 2.54 x 0.64 cm). Gift of Catherine Glynn Benkaim (M.2006.167.1) © LACMA

LONDON.- The earliest known example of Mughal jade; spectacularly large spinels inscribed with the names of emperors from the Mughal treasuries; a jewelled gold tiger’s head finial from the throne of the famed Tipu Sultan of Mysore and a dazzling brooch inspired by Diaghilev’s Ballet Russes made in Paris in 1910 are among the treasures on public display for the first time in the UK, as part of the V&A’s new exhibition Bejewelled Treasures: The Al Thani Collection.  Gold finial from Tipu Sultan’s throne, 1790 –... [Lire la suite]

Although Muslim cultures settled expansively in the past, areas where Islamic jades have been recovered are relatively few and far between. The Kunlun mountains in eastern Central Asia are the most significant source of nephrite jade; not only providing Chinese artisans with raw materials, but also those in the Timurid Empire in Central Asia (1370-1506), the Mughal Empire (1526-1857) in Southern Asia, the Ottoman Empire (1300-1923) in Western Asia, and even Eastern Europe as well. The Huang-ming Pao-shun, or... [Lire la suite]

Kundan Jade Archer’s Ring, Mughal Empire, India, 17th Century. Photo courtesy Auctionata. A beautiful translucent jade ring with tendril decor. Pale green jade. Floral decor in kundan technique. Inlaid emeralds and spinels. Height: 4.2 cm. Ring size: 67. Very good state of preservation. The ring is in a very good state of preservation according to its age. There are only minor chips along the edge and some tiny nicks on the gems. Estimate €6,400 – €8,000 Provenance: ex-collection F.R. Martin, thence Austrian private collection... [Lire la suite]

White jade Qur’an box from the Mughal Empire, India, 18th Century. Photo courtesy Auctionata. Miniature Qur’an box with finely works flower ornaments. Elegant carving. Fine polish and oily surface. Octagonal form. Floral decor. Diameter: 4 cm. Good state of preservation. The Qur’an box is in a good state of preservation according to its age. There are minor chips along the edges. The jade has a shiny and slightly oily surface – a sign of authenticity – which brings to bear the exceptional polish of the stone. Estimate... [Lire la suite]