Oliver White
Head of Department
Lot 222*
A rare Mughal silver thread Bed Roll India, 18th Century
8 April 2014, 10:30 BST
London, New Bond Street£15,000 - £20,000
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A rare Mughal silver thread Bed Roll
India, 18th Century
India, 18th Century
of rectangular form, the silver thread interwoven with copper in a cross-hatch design
180.5 cm. length; 100.5 cm. width
180.5 cm. length; 100.5 cm. width
Footnotes
Provenance:
Private collection;
Acquired Christie's, West-East - The Niall Hobhouse Collection, London, 22nd May 2008, lot 288.
Three other bed-rolls or rugs of this type are known to exist: one is made of solid ivory, excluding its border; the second is made of solid silver with strips which are much thicker than our example here; the third known example is made of ivory and silver, and of almost the same size as this silver thread roll (sold at Christie's, Islamic Art and Indian Miniatures, London, 14th October 1997, lot 371A).
This bed roll is a feat of great technical skill. The silver thread would have had a cooling effect when the bed roll was used. As an item of luxury, it was probably made for a princely family of India.