4th Jun, 2025 11:00
Indian, Islamic, Himalayan and South-East Asian Art and Greek and Roman Antiquities
39
A DEPICTION OF A FAKIR (BENAVA), LUCKNOW, INDIA, CIRCA 1815-20
delicately painted in colour on paper, image 19.5 x 15.5cm.
This refined painting style typifies that employed in paintings produced in Lucknow in the early 19th century. This example was produced by a local artist to be housed in an album. It was intended for purchase by a European visitor as a record of the many types, trades and religious figures of the region. Such an album, enclosing fifty three depictions, is in the collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum, London, AL7970:28.
The subject of this painting can be identified as a muslim fakir of the Benava sect from an image included in the The Tashrih al-aqvam, a manuscript compiled anonymously of the 'origins and occupations of some of the sects, castes and tribes of india' in Hansi in 1825. Now in the British Library, BL3306902, it includes a depiction of a muslim fakir of the Benava sect adopting a similar mode of dress and carrying some of the same accoutrements, including a cage bird beneath a cloth and staff.
Sold for £2,600
delicately painted in colour on paper, image 19.5 x 15.5cm.
This refined painting style typifies that employed in paintings produced in Lucknow in the early 19th century. This example was produced by a local artist to be housed in an album. It was intended for purchase by a European visitor as a record of the many types, trades and religious figures of the region. Such an album, enclosing fifty three depictions, is in the collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum, London, AL7970:28.
The subject of this painting can be identified as a muslim fakir of the Benava sect from an image included in the The Tashrih al-aqvam, a manuscript compiled anonymously of the 'origins and occupations of some of the sects, castes and tribes of india' in Hansi in 1825. Now in the British Library, BL3306902, it includes a depiction of a muslim fakir of the Benava sect adopting a similar mode of dress and carrying some of the same accoutrements, including a cage bird beneath a cloth and staff.
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
Viewing
PUBLIC EXHIBITION:
Sunday 1st June 12pm - 4pm
Monday 2nd June 10am - 8pm
Tuesday 3rd June 10am - 5pm
