Primer thumbnail 1
Primer thumbnail 2
Image of Gallery in South Kensington
On display at V&A South Kensington
South Asia Gallery, Room 41

Primer

17th century (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

The sensitively carved intertwined and overlapping animals of the hunt on this Mughal primer include an elephant, lions, an ibex and a ram. Microscopic examination of the piece in the conservation department of the V&A discovered that it was once extensively painted and gilded. It was made within the Mughal empire in the 17th century. The primer was acquired as 'Persian, 17th century' by the museum from Sotheby's, London, on May 10, 1923 (lot 304). The auction of 'Works of Art' was one of a series held by order of the executors to sell the library and objects of the great collectors Max and Maurice Rosenheim.


Object details

Categories
Object type
Materials and techniques
Carved ivory, with minute traces of colours and gilding
Brief description
Carved ivory, Mughal, 17th century
Physical description
Curved ivory primer in two separable parts, carved with chevrons and conjoined animals, the longer section pierced with round holes
Dimensions
  • Length: 16cm
Style
Credit line
Purchased from Messrs Durlacher Bros., 142 New Bond Street, London W.1
Object history
This was lot 304 in the Rosenheim sale at Sotheby's, London, on Thursday 10 May 1923 (Nominal file: Durlacher Brothers,MA/1/D1979/6. Pt.6, 1911-1928). Durlacher's presumably bid for this and several other lots in the series of Rosenheim sales on behalf of the museum.
The annotated Sotheby sale catalogue is in the NAL, 23.XX.
Subjects depicted
Associations
Summary
The sensitively carved intertwined and overlapping animals of the hunt on this Mughal primer include an elephant, lions, an ibex and a ram. Microscopic examination of the piece in the conservation department of the V&A discovered that it was once extensively painted and gilded. It was made within the Mughal empire in the 17th century. The primer was acquired as 'Persian, 17th century' by the museum from Sotheby's, London, on May 10, 1923 (lot 304). The auction of 'Works of Art' was one of a series held by order of the executors to sell the library and objects of the great collectors Max and Maurice Rosenheim.
Bibliographic references
  • The Indian Heritage. Court Life and Arts under Mughal Rule. HMSO, 1982. cat. 441, p. 136 Swallow, Deborah and John Guy eds. Arts of India: 1550-1900. text by Rosemary Crill, John Guy, Veronica Murphy, Susan Stronge and Deborah Swallow. London : V&A Publications, 1990. 240 p., ill. ISBN 1851770224, p.100, no.82.
  • Skelton, Robert, et al, The Indian Heritage. Court life and Arts under Mughal Rule London: The Victoria and Albert Museum, 1982 p. 136, cat. no. 441, Susan Stronge
Collection
Accession number
CIRC.597-1923

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Record createdDecember 15, 1999
Record URL
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