Not currently on display at the V&A

One of twenty-six ivory buttons painted with butterflies.

Button
ca. 1880 (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

This is one of a set of buttons painted with a depiction of a butterfly. Such paintings are a legacy of the traditional skill of Indian court artists at working in miniature. The naturalistic subject of the paintings on this button is unusual. Delhi miniatures of this type are typically painted with Indian monuments and portraits of Mughal emperors. Such miniatures could be acquired separately, or mounted into boxes or pieces of jewellery.

With the decline of Mughal patronage in the 18th century, miniature painters formerly working for the court emigrated to new centres of power or began to produce works specifically for the growing number of Europeans in India. By the mid 19th century this had grown into a substantial souvenir trade.


Object details

Category
Object type
TitleOne of twenty-six ivory buttons painted with butterflies. (generic title)
Materials and techniques
Watercolour on Ivory, painted
Brief description
Painting; Watercolour on ivory, Ivory button painted with a butterfly, under a glass disc, Delhi, ca.1880.
Physical description
Ivory button depicting a butterfly, under a glass disc.
Style
Credit line
Presented by W. Chapman Esq
Object history
Published: M. Archer, 1955.
Subject depicted
Summary
This is one of a set of buttons painted with a depiction of a butterfly. Such paintings are a legacy of the traditional skill of Indian court artists at working in miniature. The naturalistic subject of the paintings on this button is unusual. Delhi miniatures of this type are typically painted with Indian monuments and portraits of Mughal emperors. Such miniatures could be acquired separately, or mounted into boxes or pieces of jewellery.

With the decline of Mughal patronage in the 18th century, miniature painters formerly working for the court emigrated to new centres of power or began to produce works specifically for the growing number of Europeans in India. By the mid 19th century this had grown into a substantial souvenir trade.
Bibliographic reference
Archer, Mildred. Company Paintings Indian Paintings of the British period Victoria and Albert Museum Indian Series London: Victoria and Albert Museum, Maplin Publishing, 1992 225 p. ISBN 0944142303
Collection
Accession number
IS.22-1898

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Record createdJuly 25, 2006
Record URL
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