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Lot 252

A hand-coloured woodblock print depicting Guru Gobind Singh initiating the first five members of the Khalsa in 1699
Punjab, Amritsar, published by Bhai Buta Singh, Bazaar Mai Seva, 1875

22 May 2025, 11:00 BST
London, New Bond Street

Sold for £2,816 inc. premium

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A hand-coloured woodblock print depicting Guru Gobind Singh initiating the first five members of the Khalsa in 1699
Punjab, Amritsar, published by Bhai Buta Singh, Bazaar Mai Seva, 1875

coloured woodblock print on paper, titles and identifying captions in gurmukhi with handwritten transliterations beneath, pink border
280 x 450 mm.

Footnotes

Provenance
Henry Brownrigg, Portobello Road Market, from whom it was acquired by the current owner in 1999.


The title reads: ye murat sri guru gobind singh ji de amrit chhakavan di hai, 'This picture shows the exalted and respected Guru Gobind Singh administering the immortal water'.

Each figure (including the two birds at the bottom) is identified with in Gurmukhi, several with transliterations in ink (from left to right):

safevala ('cloth bearer'); sri guru gobind singh ji ('Exalted and respected Guru Gobind Singh'); patase pake mata ji ne khalsa vich milat da var lai dita hai maharaj paso ('By adding sugar candy the respected Mata infused the spirit of brotherhood in the Khalsa on behalf of King [Guru Gobind Singh]'); panj piare ('The Five Beloved'); daia singh ji ('Respected Daya Singh'); himmat singh ji ('Respected Himmat Singh'); dharam singh ji ('Respected Dharam Singh'); mohkam singh ji ('Respected Mohkam Singh'); sahib singh ji ('Respected Sahib Singh'); bina patasia de amrit pi kar chirre larr mare hain ('The birds die fighting on drinking the unsweetened immortal waters').

Publishing details are given in the lower border in Gurmukhi: hasab furmais bhai buta singh kitab firos amritsar parkarma vikhe, 'Published by Bhai Buta Singh bookseller of Amritsar located in the perimeter walkway [surrounding the Golden Temple]'; chashme noor press amritsar ji mai chhape, 'Printed by Chashme Noor Press in exalted Amritsar'.

Additional information