ARTS OF INDIA SALE

Celebrating the splendour and diversity of Indian art and culture, Christie's 'Arts of India' sale will once again offer a beautiful range of the very best of Indian jewellery and art led by works form The Collection of William and Mildred Archer. The sale will include jewellery, furniture, textiles and works of art, as well as a wonderful variety of paintings, watercolours, prints, illustrated books and photographs depicting the landscape, life and times of India during the Mughal period and the Raj.

Reflecting the Mughal's love of ornament and beauty, the sale is highlighted by the magnificent 17th century Mughal carved emerald set in a diamond brooch, circa 1820 (estimate: £650 000 - 850 000). Weighing 55.84 carats, the emerald is superbly decorated with fine Mughal carvings of flowers on the front and back and would have originally belonged to a highly important member of the Indian Royal Court. Floral motifs were symbolic of fertility and nature and according to Indian folk-law, emeralds were thought to improve the vision of those wore them. Mounted and secured by the drill holes each side, it is likely that this exquisite stone would have originally been worn as part of a major jewelled ornament such as a sarpech, a head ornament worn by Indian nobleman.

ARTS OF INDIA PAINTINGS

Further sale highlights include The Collection of William and Mildred Archer which provide a fascinating record of late 18th and early 19th century India. With a shared knowledge and enthusiasm the Archer's acquired a unique personal collection of pictures, watercolours, and printed material of India by distinguished British artists including Thomas and William Daniell, George Chinnery, Edward Lear, Sir Charles D'Oyly, William Prinsep, Emily Eden and William Hodges. Hodges was one of the first professional artists to visit India and was the official artist on Captain Cook's second voyage in 1725-75.

Highlights of the collection include three works by two of the great European artists working on the Indian sub-continent in the 18th and the 19th century, Thomas and William Daniell. Thomas Daniell is represented by Hill House at Bhagalpur, Bihar (Estimate: £40 000 - £60 000) and William Daniell by his Zenana Scene (estimate: £15 000 - £20 000). The uncle-nephew team toured India on sketching tours from 1785 until 1794. Greatly inspired by William Hodges, the Daniell's ventured further that any previous artist and drew unrivalled views of the scenery and architecture of the fabled and exotic land.

The late William G. Archer and his wife, Dr Mildred Archer were internationally renowned for their unique knowledge of Indian and Anglo-Indian art. Following sixteen years in India, they returned to London in 1946 where William became the Keeper of the Indian Section at the Victoria and Albert Museum. Meanwhile Mildred compiled the first two volumes of the catalogue of the British Drawings at the Indian Office Library as well as publishing numerous authoritative works on British and Company School art in India.

The Arts of India sale will take place on 24th September 2003 at Christie's in London. Click here to visit the Christie's website.

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