Wood-block print, calligraphy in form of peacock, printed on paper, painted details in watercolour, Lahore, late 19th century

Wood-block print, printed in black on paper with hand-painted details in scarlet, yellow, green and magenta watercolour, ornamental calligraphy in the form of a peacock holding a rosary in its beak and standing beside a flowering rose tree in a pot. The bird embodies the Bismillah, above is an additional inscription.

Ornamental calligraphy in the form of a peacock holding a rosary in its beak and standing beside a flowering rose tree in a pot. The bird embodies the Bismillah, above is an additional inscription.

Given by Col J. Holbein Hendley, C.I.E.

See letter of Hendley to Caspar Purdon Clarke, December 31 1915 on NFMA/1/H1596, Hendley Family, where he notes that these were from 'the bazaar' and are the originals of those published by him and Chaubey Bisvesvar Nath of Jaipur in the Journal of Indian Art. Several of the calligraphic birds and animals reproduced in the Journal are signed and give their place of origin as Lahore, or the Lahore bazaar.

Owned by Thomas Holbein Hendley, who was a British medical officer in the Indian Medical Service from 1869 until 1903. He was also an authority figure on Indian art and helped find the Quarterly Journal of Indian Art in 1886. When the Residency Surgeon of Jaipur, he helped establish the Jaipur Museum in 1881. In 1883, he organised the Jeypore Exhibition of Decorative and Industrial Arts whose collection along with that of the museum was moved to the building now known as the Albert Hall Museum.

Given by Col J. Holbein Hendley, C.I.E., 4 Loudoun Road, St. John's Wood, N.W. This acquisition information reflects that found in the Museum records (Asia Department registers and/or Central Inventory) as part of a 2023 provenance research project.

R.P. 1916/12M

IM.8-1916