basin;
garniture
- Museum number
- OA+.2644
- Description
-
Basin; mother of pearl, brass, silver. Construction method: Internal brass reinforcing bands overlaid with mother of pearl plaques, secured with silver pins; the domed core at the centre possibly of metal overlaid with mother of pearl plaques. Made from plaques of the marine snail 'Turbo marmoratus' with inserts of 'P. margaritifera' (pearl oyster shell) and 'Trochus (Tectus) niloticus' (button shell); the central dome with geometric and lappet-shaped plaques forming a foliate motif; the interior of the basin with shaped plaques forming a radiating petal motif; the petal motif continues to the edge of the basin where it curves upwards to meet the outer rim; the curved sides and flared outer rim are made up of rectangular plaques, as is the underneath.
- Production date
- 17thC(early)
- Dimensions
-
Diameter: 440 millimetres
- Curator's comments
- Part of a garniture with a pair of candlesticks (OA+2643, 1-2), one basin (OA+2644), one bottle (OA+ 2642). Each section of the garniture marked underneath 'FB'.
For commentary on Gujarati mother-of-pearl work made for the export market, see: Jaffer, A., 'Luxury Goods from India', Victoria and Albert Museum Publications, 2002, cat. nos. 5, 11-14. For a comparable set in the V&A of a pair of ewers and a pair of basins, see cat. no. 11
( 4282-1857; 4283-1857; 4257-1857; 4258-1857).
For another examples of this form, see: 'Exotica: The Portuguese Discoveries and the Renaissance Kunstkammer', exh. cat., Calouste Gulbenkian Museum, Lisbon, 2001-2002, cat. no. 26, pp. 123-4 and references.
See also:
British Museum Magazine, Number 55, Summer 2006, p15
The British Museum Technical Research Bulletin, Vol. 1, 2007, pp1-8
- Location
- On display (G46/dc15)
- Condition
- Good.
- Department
- Middle East
- Registration number
- OA+.2644