Indo-Portuguese Ivory Inlaid Centre Table of Mughal Period and Design
GOA, Western India 17th/early 18th Century
Height 33” (84cm) Width 38” (97cm) Depth 21” (53cm)
This very rare teak centre table is extensively inlaid with engraved ivory and green stained ivory. The slightly overhanding top has a band of rosettes enclosing an outer panel of ‘Tree of Life’ floral sprays surrounding a rectangular central panel consisting of two panels of cubes flanking a square panel of formal foliate sprays above a deep frieze on four legs united by square section cross stretchers, the legs formed as female figures representing Nagini (river goddesses) standing on square block feet. There are four drawers to the frieze, two on each long side, with gilt copper escutcheons and later European locks and keys. The base is inlaid with formal bands of rosettes and floral sprays below the frieze and drawers each with an inlaid panel and rosette borders enclosing a bird and cow among ivory and green stained ivory foliate designs.
The cube or ‘tumbling block’ design originally appeared on Roman pavements and is likely to have been exported to India during the extensive trade that was conducted between Roman India during ancient times. It is created to give an illusionary 3-D image. Interestingly the Taj Mahal which was commissioned by Shah Jahan, the great Architect of the Mughal empire, is celebrated for the use of illusion in its design.
This table drawers its inspiration from the Goan cabinets on stands that were popular with the Portuguese travellers during the 17th century. However, we are aware of only one other comparable table but without this extraordinary illusionary top.
See Christies London 10th April 2014, lot 136 £68,500.
For a cabinet with almost identical Nagini supports see Paco dos Duques Museum, Guimaraes, Portugal.
Provenance:
The Estate of the late Eric James Mellon, Ceramic Artist 1925-2014,
Accompanied by a purchase invoice from 1950.
Bears label for A. Cezar Coelho & Cunha Com Officina de Marceneiro e Entalhador. The above probably undertook some restoration of the table and replaced the locks in Lisbon.
Shah Jahan 1592-1666
He had an almost insatiable passion for building. At his first capital, Agra, he undertook the building of two great mosques, the Moti Masjid (Pearl Mosque) and the Jami Masjid (Great Mosque) as well as the Taj Mahal which was erected in memory of Mumtaz Mahal, his favourite wife. He also built the Red Fort in Delhi which remained the seat of the last Mughal Emperor.
His reign was also a period of great literary and artistic activity. The splendour of the Mughal court reached its zenith during his reign.
£75,000
