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A SUITE OF INDIAN SOLID IVORY AND PARCEL-GILT SEAT FURNITURE

Lot 12
07.07.2022 17:00UTC +00:00
Classic
Sold
£ 3 762 000
AuctioneerCHRISTIE'S
Event locationUnited Kingdom, London
Buyer Premiumsee on Website%
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Archive
ID 791809
Lot 12 | A SUITE OF INDIAN SOLID IVORY AND PARCEL-GILT SEAT FURNITURE
Estimate value
£ 400 000 – 600 000
A SUITE OF INDIAN SOLID IVORY AND PARCEL-GILT SEAT FURNITURE

MURSHIDABAD, CIRCA 1785

Comprising four armchairs and a sofa, carved throughout and gilt-decorated with feathery palm leaves and flowers, each armchair with a curved toprail above a pierced splat and S-shaped arms terminating in tigers' heads, the backs and arms joined by leafy spandrels, the arms also with palm-carved splats, above a pierced guilloche gallery, the caned seat above shaped rails each centred by a palmette and the three cabriole front legs each headed by a larger-sized palmette, carved with acanthus and terminating in claw and ball feet, the two rear legs of slightly splayed square-tapering form, all joined by stretchers with turned baluster spokes and flowerhead-carved centrepieces; the sofa en suite with differing splat patterns and five acanthus-carved cabriole legs, all with ivory and metal-pegged construction, each piece stamped 'A.W' and 'L.1428', two chairs labelled 'William 2nd / HEIR LOOM / NO. 639 / C.T' two chairs '.... NO. 640 / C.T' , the sofa '.... NO. 638 / C.T', minor differences in detail and size

the chairs each 36 in. (92 cm.) high; 28 in. (71 cm.); 22 (56 cm.) deep; the sofa 37 in. 94 cm. high; 82 in. (208 cm.) wide; 33 in. (84 cm.) deep





Provenance

Commissioned by Mani Begum, widow of Mir Jafar, Nawab of Murshidabad as a gift to Warren Hastings and his wife Marian, and shipped to England between 1784 and 1799.

By family descent to General Sir Charles Imhoff, stepson of Warren Hastings, sold 24 August 1853 at Daylesford House, on his death (the sofa lot 396 or 397, the chairs from lots 398 - 402).

Acquired at the Daylesford House sale by William Lowther, 2nd Earl of Lonsdale (1787 - 1872).

By descent to Lancelot Edward Lowther, 6th Earl of Lonsdale (1867 - 1949) until sold Lowther Castle house sale, 15 April 1947, lot 308.

Purchased by Thornton (possibly Thornton Antiques, Harrogate) and subsequently with Mallett.

Acquired from Mallett & Son Ltd, London, 25 October 1967.

Anonymous sale Sotheby's, London, 4 December 2013, lots 454 - 547 (two pairs of chairs and a sofa).



Literature

One chair illustrated in the Drawing Room, Lowther Castle, circa 1900, Carlisle Public Records Office.

Veronica Murphy, 'Art and the East India Trade (1500 - 1857) and some little-known ivory furniture', Connoisseur, December 1970, pp. 229 - 237, figs. 6 & 7.

E. Lennox-Boyd (ed.), Masterpieces of English Furniture The Gerstenfeld Collection, London, 1998, pp. 135 - 139, fig. 102 (one chair).

Dr. Amin Jaffer, 'Tipu Sultan, Warren Hastings and Queen Charlotte: The Mythology and Typology of Anglo-Indian Ivory Furniture', Burlington Magazine, May 1999, pp. 273 - 275, pp. 280 - 281, figs. 19 and 20.

Dr. Amin Jaffer, Furniture from British India and Ceylon, London, 2001, pp. 238 - 263, no 80 and fig. 105.



Special notice


Prospective purchasers are advised that several countries prohibit the importation of property containing materials from endangered species, including but not limited to coral, ivory and tortoiseshell. Accordingly, prospective purchasers should familiarize themselves with relevant customs regulations prior to bidding if they intend to import this lot into another country.
This lot will be stored at Crozier Park Royal and will be available for collection from 12.00pm on the second business day following the sale. Please call Christie’s Client Service 24 hours in advance to book a collection time at Crozier Park Royal. All collections from Crozier Park Royal will be by pre-booked appointment only. Tel: +44 (0)20 7839 9060 I Email: [email protected].



Post lot text

This lot contains elephant ivory material and is offered with the benefit of being registered as ‘exempt’ in the UK in accordance with the UK Ivory Act.  Please note that it is your responsibility to determine and satisfy the requirements of any applicable regulations relating to the export or import of any lot you purchase. Please also note that from 19 January 2022, Christie’s is unable to ship elephant ivory lots into the EU.
Medium:Ivory
Historical era:Georgian period
Place of origin:India, Asia
Auction house category:Furniture and Lamps
Address of auction CHRISTIE'S
8 King Street, St. James's
SW1Y 6QT London
United Kingdom
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07.07.2022 – 07.07.2022
Phone +44 (0)20 7839 9060
Email
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