4th Jun, 2025 11:00
Indian, Islamic, Himalayan and South-East Asian Art and Greek and Roman Antiquities
259
A PARCEL GILT SILVER TOBACCO BOX, SUMATRA, INDONESIA, 18TH/19TH CENTURY
of elongated octagonal form, the slightly concave hinged lid set with bosses, the sides with chased and repousse vegetal decoration, a line of jawi script along the top at the front, the underside with twelve further lines of jawi on either side of a foliate urn motif, the interior with two compartments with removable divider, 3.7 x 12 x 5cm
The inscriptions are difficult to read, but have been translated: This states that this is the tobacco box of the head of the district of [...], the value of the silver is twenty rupiah, the gold is ten loose riah, and the workmanship is six loose riah. It was completed at the beginning of the month of Ramadan; the maker is Tuan Raja Alisu Syartu, the head of [...] it was he who made it; and God knows best. (base); The one who wrote this is the son of a person of Siakumu Siak[?] (front edge) (Trans: A. T. Gallop on behalf of the vendor)
Provenance: Property of Geoffrey Saba, London
Sold for £200
of elongated octagonal form, the slightly concave hinged lid set with bosses, the sides with chased and repousse vegetal decoration, a line of jawi script along the top at the front, the underside with twelve further lines of jawi on either side of a foliate urn motif, the interior with two compartments with removable divider, 3.7 x 12 x 5cm
The inscriptions are difficult to read, but have been translated: This states that this is the tobacco box of the head of the district of [...], the value of the silver is twenty rupiah, the gold is ten loose riah, and the workmanship is six loose riah. It was completed at the beginning of the month of Ramadan; the maker is Tuan Raja Alisu Syartu, the head of [...] it was he who made it; and God knows best. (base); The one who wrote this is the son of a person of Siakumu Siak[?] (front edge) (Trans: A. T. Gallop on behalf of the vendor)
Provenance: Property of Geoffrey Saba, London
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
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PUBLIC EXHIBITION:
Sunday 1st June 12pm - 4pm
Monday 2nd June 10am - 8pm
Tuesday 3rd June 10am - 5pm
