Indian Company School Elephant with Double-canopied Howdah
An original 19th-century gouache painting, Indian Company School, Elephant with Double-canopied Howdah.
A superb Indian gouache painting on transparent mica depicting an ornately canopied elephant howdah. The colour and detail in this painting are exceptional. In the 19th century a howdah was a symbol of wealth for its owner; they would often be elaborately decorated, even with expensive gemstones. Howdahs were used to carry wealthy people during processions, hunting or in warfare.
This is one of a small series of mica paintings of Indian trades, professions and palanquin carriages that we have for sale (see JX-382 to JX-390). The series is painted with particular precision, with fine detail to the costumes.
Indian Company paintings on mica are rare; it is estimated that as of now, there are only around 7,000 mica paintings available in the world.
The mica is loose with no mount or backing.
Dimensions: Height: 13.1cm (5.16") Width: 9.7cm (3.82")
Presented: Unframed.
Medium: Gouache
Age: 19th-century
Signed: No.
Inscribed: Inscription scratched into the mica below the painting: 'Elephant Howdah (covered)'.
Dated: --
Condition: In good condition for its age. The paint is well intact and exceptionally vivid. There is a small loss to the lower left coner of the mica and slight cracking to the lower edge. Note that other marks visible in the photo are not cracks but rather areas of slight delamination. Please see photos for detail.
Stock number: JX-390
