Four Painted Wooden Panels, Deccan or Gujarat, 17th century

Kevorkian collection (labels).

Collection of Dr. William K. Ehrenfeld (1934-2005), San Francisco.

Acquired directly from the Ehrenfeld collection by the current owner, August 1994.

This is a very interesting group of four painted wood, oblong pothi-shape panels or manuscript covers which were executed in a simplified, popular style and which appear to have been painted in the Deccan - or possibly Gujarat given its horizontal pothi format. Although executed in a folkish manner the paintings are actually quite deftly drawn. Based upon details of costuming and facial features our panels seem to be likely datable to the 17th century. Each panel depicts a seated noblewoman watching female musicians and dancers in various poses - with maidens capturing birds in one panel.

Such panels are scarce in the marketplace. Two related panels, from the Pal Family Collection were sold at Christie's New York, 20th March 2008, lots 262 and 263, where they described as 17th/18th century Rajasthan and 17th century Bikaner. However, they differ in composition and subject with our own panels. The surfaces of the present panels have been coated with a lacquer or varnish and there are signs of a relatively recent application.

As further reference a pair of painted and lacquered book covers in codex (vertical) format are in the collection of the Jameel Centre for Islamic and Asian Art at the Ashmolean Museum (LI118.63 and LI118.64) which depict the "Tree of Life" filled with birds and auspicious vases of florals which are described there as "typically Deccani".