4th Jun, 2025 11:00
Indian, Islamic, Himalayan and South-East Asian Art and Greek and Roman Antiquities
196
A BRONZE FIGURE OF A GOOSE OR HAMSA, NORTH INDIA OR DECCAN, INDIA, CIRCA 17TH CENTURY
perching on a circular lotus base, its claws splayed out. its body neck and wings engraved with stylised feathers, 20 x 14 x 9 cm
Exhibited and Published: Other-Worldly Creatures: Zoomorphic Metalwork from India, Amir Mohtashemi Ltd., London, 2017, no. 3
The function of this object is not immediately apparent; the square panel inserted at the back merely covers the hole necessitated by the casting process. A clue is the disc cover at the top of the head, which conceals an opening. This suggests that the object was originally either a lamp, with a wick passing through the opening, or a container. For a bird lamp with an opening on the head in the Fowler Museum, Los Angeles, see Anderson 2006, p. 87.
Sold for £500
perching on a circular lotus base, its claws splayed out. its body neck and wings engraved with stylised feathers, 20 x 14 x 9 cm
Exhibited and Published: Other-Worldly Creatures: Zoomorphic Metalwork from India, Amir Mohtashemi Ltd., London, 2017, no. 3
The function of this object is not immediately apparent; the square panel inserted at the back merely covers the hole necessitated by the casting process. A clue is the disc cover at the top of the head, which conceals an opening. This suggests that the object was originally either a lamp, with a wick passing through the opening, or a container. For a bird lamp with an opening on the head in the Fowler Museum, Los Angeles, see Anderson 2006, p. 87.
Auction: Indian, Islamic, Himalayan and South-East Asian Art and Greek and Roman Antiquities, 4th Jun, 2025
Auction Location: London, UK
The sales include sculpture, bronzes, metalwork, textiles and paintings representative of the richly varied styles seen across the Indian subcontinent, from early Buddhist and Jain art to Mughal and European-influenced works of art of the colonial era.
Works of art from all parts of the Islamic world, from Morocco in the west, through the Middle East, Persia and Central Asia to muslim China and South East Asia in the East are included in the sale. Objects range in date from the early centuries of Islam to the early 20th century at a wide range of price levels.
The sales also include Khmer, Thai and Javanese sculpture and bronzes, textiles from the Indonesian islands, Thai ceramics, Burmese lacquer and Buddhist manuscripts. Works of art range from the early Indian-influenced styles from 9th century Java to the elaborate carved and lacquered woodwork from Colonial Burma.
For full details of bibliographic references, see pages 192-193 of the page turning and printed versions of the catalogue.
PUBLIC EXHIBITION:
Sunday 1st June 12pm - 4pm
Monday 2nd June 10am - 8pm
Tuesday 3rd June 10am - 5pm
CONTACT US
Lara Defries
lara.defries@olympiaauctions.com
Mr Arthur Millner
arthur.millner@olympiaauctions.com
Nicholas Shaw
nicholas.shaw@olympiaauctions.com
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PUBLIC EXHIBITION:
Sunday 1st June 12pm - 4pm
Monday 2nd June 10am - 8pm
Tuesday 3rd June 10am - 5pm
