20th May, 2026 11:00
Live Sale: Indian, Islamic, Himalayan and South-East Asian Art 2026
20
A NOBLEMAN ON A HORSE, DECCAN, LATE 18TH/EARLY 19TH CENTURY
on opaque colour, black ink and gold on paper, the mounted figure gallops toward a fortified town pursued by a servant and observed from above by a winged peri, ruled margins in black and gold, image 20.6 x 31.7cm., folio 22.1 x 31.8cm.
Another version of this composition was sold by Bonhams, 10th April 2008, lot 79, also thought to be Deccan. The backward leaning posture of the princely figure and the jaunty gait of the horse are reminiscent of earlier Deccani equestrian portraits such as that of Sultan Abu'l Hassan Qutb Shah sold at Christie's, 7th October 2008, lot 223, and also with another from the Sven Gahlin Collection, sold Sotheby's, 6th October 2015, lot 46. Both of these were thought to have been produced in Golconda which might suggest a more precise origin for our painting.
Sold for £3,000
on opaque colour, black ink and gold on paper, the mounted figure gallops toward a fortified town pursued by a servant and observed from above by a winged peri, ruled margins in black and gold, image 20.6 x 31.7cm., folio 22.1 x 31.8cm.
Another version of this composition was sold by Bonhams, 10th April 2008, lot 79, also thought to be Deccan. The backward leaning posture of the princely figure and the jaunty gait of the horse are reminiscent of earlier Deccani equestrian portraits such as that of Sultan Abu'l Hassan Qutb Shah sold at Christie's, 7th October 2008, lot 223, and also with another from the Sven Gahlin Collection, sold Sotheby's, 6th October 2015, lot 46. Both of these were thought to have been produced in Golconda which might suggest a more precise origin for our painting.
Auction: Live Sale: Indian, Islamic, Himalayan and South-East Asian Art 2026, 20th May, 2026
The sale includes the collection of Robert Skelton OBE, curator of Indian Art at the Victoria and Albert Museum. It comprises some exquisite 18th and 19th century Indian paintings and drawings as well as a fine group of modern Indian paintings with works by Shiavax Chavda (1914 - 1990), Francis Newton Souza (1924 - 2002), K Laxma Goud (B. 1940) and Jayashree Chakravarty (B. 1956). Tiles, Indian bronzes, thewa boxes, a silver gilt ewer, a ‘Koftgari’ pen box and a Mughal carved black jade dagger are also among the lots in this collection.
Also in the same sale is 10th -12th century Persian pottery, a monumental pair of 19th century doors, Persian and Syrian ceramics including tiles, also Iznic tiles from Ottoman Anatolia. Other lots include Indian bronze figures, small furniture, textiles and rugs.
Auction Location: London, UK
Monday 18th May: 10am to 5:30pm
Tuesday 19th May: 10am to 5pm
Viewing
PUBLIC EXHIBITION:
Sunday 17th May: 12pm to 4pm
Monday 18th May: 10am to 5:30pm
Tuesday 19th May: 10am to 5pm
CONTACT
indianandislamic@olympiaauctions.com + 44 (0)20 7806 5545
