A part of a back-scratcher, carved in the form of a right hand, pale green nephrite jade, Mughal empire

The head of a back-scratcher, carved in the form of a right hand, fashioned in pale green nephrite jade. The elongated wrist has been depicted wearing a bangle and there is a longitudinal hole in the wrist which shows evidence of earlier attachment to a shaft.

This fragment of a back-scratcher was acquired by William Tayler during his time in India (1829-1867). He subsequently sold it to the South Kensington Museum (later renamed the Victoria & Albert Museum) in 1874 for the sum of 7 Shillings.

William Tayler was educated in England at Charterhouse and also spent a term at Christ Church, Oxford. He entered service with the East India Company on 30th April 1829, arriving in India in October of the same year. He held various posts in Bengal and was appointed Commissioner of Patna in 1855. During his service, he was able to acquire many objects, including hardstones, relating to the customs and religions of India as well as objects from other parts of South Asia.
He was criticised for his handling of the uprisings in Northern India and was moved to a lesser post before being suspended, ultimately resigning on 29th March 1859. He then practised as an advocate in the law courts of Bengal before returning to England in 1867.
He wrote a book about his experiences, entitled Thirty-eight Years in India, in which he states that "After my return to England, circumstances induced me, though with great reluctance, to part with the collection which is now in the South Kensington Museum".

This part for a back-scratcher has been carved from a piece of nephrite jade into the form of a right hand. The detail, down to finger nails and rings, is reasonably well done. It was probably made within the Mughal empire in the late 18th or early 19th century, and was acquired in India by William Tayler who sold it to the museum in 1874.

1265-1874