19th C. Indo-Persian Mughal Portraits Painted on Bone

**First Time At Auction**

Central Asia, Indo-Persia, Mughal Empire, ca. 19th century CE. A wonderful pair of ovoid portraits painted in tempera on bone or shell and set in a custom matte and frame for easy display. Elaborately dressed and intricately detailed with vibrant fabrics and numerous pearls and jewels, these portraits were meant to depict the likeness or various members of the Mughal royal family. The oval format was not native to India, but rather borrowed from European art, and became popular in the 19th century, especially among British residents of India. While the depictions of the emperors were likely based in known portraits, those of the ladies must have been largely imagined, as women would not have posed for such representations. Size of portrait (both the same): 1.5" W x 1.8" H (3.8 cm x 4.6 cm); of frame: 10.25" W x 8.5" H (26 cm x 21.6 cm)

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Provenance: private Hawaii, USA collection, acquired in June 2023 from a Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA auction house; ex-collection Edward W. M. Bryant of Washington, D.C. and Rockport, Massachusetts, USA

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#184557
Condition Report: Some minor chips to pigment on periphery of male portrait; none of which affects main imagery. Set behind glass in custom matte and frame with suspension wire on verso for display. Have not been examined outside of glass but appear to be intact and in overall excellent condition with good remaining detail.