A portable charkha spinning wheel - photo 1
A portable charkha spinning wheel - photo 2
A portable charkha spinning wheel - photo 3

A portable charkha spinning wheel

Lot 94
27.06.2024 00:00UTC +00:00
Classic
Sold
$ 32 760
AuctioneerCHRISTIE'S
Event locationUnited Kingdom, London
Buyer Premiumsee on Website%
Archive
The auction is completed. No bids can be placed anymore.
Archive
ID 1236325
Lot 94 | A portable charkha spinning wheel
Estimate value
$ 30 000 – 50 000
[GANDHI, Mohandas Karamchand (1869-1948)]. A portable charkha (spinning wheel), presented by Gandhi to Marion and Lilabati Ghose, c. February 1932.

Indian teak, approx. 915 x 233 x 40mm when opened, hollow metal handle (string and thread lacking, cracks to wooden stretchers, some rust and wear).

A portable spinning wheel presented by Gandhi to the daughters of Indian nationalist leader Sailendra Naith Ghose. As President of the Indian National Congress of America, Ghose campaigned for Gandhi to visit the United States. In 1931, he sent his wife and two daughters on a visit to London to make a personal appeal to Gandhi, who was then visiting the city for the Second Roundtable Conference. Although Gandhi granted Ghose's daughters, Lilabati and Miriam, a personal meeting, he declined the invitation to come to the United States citing more pressing needs in India. Instead, Gandhi promised them a gift. According to press reports, Lilabati suggested a spinning wheel, something that Gandhi did not have with him at the time. But soon after their return to the United States in early 1932, Lilabati and Miriam were surprised by a visit from an envoy sent by Gandhi who travelled to the U.S. on the ship Europa. According to Sailendra Ghose, Gandhi, on the eve of his arrest on 4 January 1932, "'called upon one of his lieutenants to come to America carrying his gift of the spinning wheel and also certain confidential messages to friends here.'"*

The origins and operation of the Yerwada portable charkha are described in the American monthly Popular Science (December 1931): "Mahatma Gandhi ... has devised a portable spinning wheel that folds into a bundle about the size of a portable typewriter and has a handle for carrying. When unfolded for use, it is operated by turning a small crank, which runs the two wheels and spindle of the device. Gandhi worked out the details of this machine, it is reported, while he was confined to the Yerwada jail in India". It is possible that the tabletop charkha was invented by a member of Gandhi's circle rather than Gandhi himself: Rebecca M. Brown (Gandhi's Spinning Wheel and Making of India, 2010) dates its development to 1929-31, and notes a visit to Yerawda of Gandhi's British associate Mirabehn (Madeleine Slade) who "delivered a new charkha there on 18 July 1930. It is possible that this was the new box charkha."

The production of khadi—handspun cloth—was of both symbolic and practical importance in Gandhi's vision of an independent, self-reliant India, and he encouraged all Indians to spend a part of each day in spinning. A spinning wheel was even incorporated, at Gandhi's suggestion, into the flag of the Indian National Congress, from which the present Indian national flag (which should ideally be made from khadi) derives.

This spinning wheel was presented on the Antiques Roadshow aired on 26 January 2015 (Season 2, Episode 28). Provenance: Mohandas Gandhi – (gift to) Lilabatt and Miriam Ghose – by descent to the consignor.

__________
*AP, "Gandhi Sends Spinning Wheel to U.S. Girls," Kalamazoo Gazette, 11 February 1932, p. 7.
Artist:Mahatma Gandhi (1869 - 1948)
Place of origin:India
Auction house category:All other types of objects
Address of auction CHRISTIE'S
8 King Street, St. James's
SW1Y 6QT London
United Kingdom
Preview
13.06.2024 – 27.06.2024
Phone +44 (0)20 7839 9060
Email
4FQ.AYGKAGLUQ@FO3G@
Buyer Premium see on Website
Conditions of purchaseConditions of purchase

More from Creator

A portable charkha spinning wheel
A portable charkha spinning wheel
$100
An unpublished correspondence
An unpublished correspondence
$100

Related terms

Frequently asked questions

First of all, you should register to be able to purchase at auction. After confirming your email address, enter your personal information in your user profile, such as your first name, last name, and mail address. Choose a lot from the upcoming auction and the maximum amount you want to place on it. After confirmation of your choice, we will send your application by e-mail to the appropriate auction house. If the auction house accepts a request, it will participate in the auction. You can view the current status of a bid at any time in your personal account in the "Bids" section.
Auctions are performed by auction houses and each of the auction houses describes their terms of auction. You can see the texts in the section "Auction information".
The results of the auction are published within a few days after the end of the auction. In the top menu of the site, find the tab "Auctions". Click on it and you will be on the auction catalog page, where you can easily find the category "Results". After opening it, select the desired auction from the list, enter and view the current status of the interested lot.
The information about the auction winners is confidential. The auction winner will receive a direct notification from the auction house responsible with instructions for further action: an invoice for payment and the manner in which the goods will be received.
Each of the auction houses has its own payment policy for the won lots. All auction houses accept bank transfers, most of them accept credit card payments. In the near future you will find detailed information for each case in the section "Auction information" on the page of the auction catalog and the lot.
Shipment of the won lot depends on its size. Small items can be delivered by post. Larger lots are sent by courier. Employees of the auction houses will offer you a wide range to choose from.
No. The archive serves as a reference for the study of auction prices, photographs and descriptions of works of art.