Bhil Art: Tribal Paintings from India

December 14, 2012

Amy Lin of Saffronart explores the wonders of Bhil art and their significances

Bhuri Bai
Untilted
The Story by Saffronart

New York: Tribal art has been gaining popularity in recent years due to the rich cultural heritage it reflects and the bold creations it results in. In a previous post, we discussed Gond art in celebration of the first Indian Folk and Tribal Art Auction held at Saffronart. After with the Gonds, the Bhils are the second largest tribal community in western and central India. Their art focuses on their natural environment filled with songs, rituals, tattoos and folklore. In a new collection on The Story by Saffronart called Rhythms and Rituals, we’re featuring some fantastic pieces from celebrated Bhil artists.

The tradition of Bhil painting first stemmed from the home. Upon visiting a Bhil household, one will discover a delightful myriad of images from myth and folklore adorning their walls and ceilings. Every year, a new plaster of mittichitra (clay relief work) and paintings are applied to the interiors of the house. Pigments are ground from natural materials and leaves and flowers, while brushes are made with neem twigs.

Pithora horses are a common theme among Bhil artists. The traditional painter or lekhindra often paints pithoras as an offering to the goddesses. According to legend, the people of the Kingdom Dharmi Raja have forgotten how to laugh. The brave prince Pithora rode on horseback through a dangerous terrain and brought back laughter and joy from the goddess Himali Harda. Similar to all adivasi tribes, the Bhils live close to nature and lead a largely agricultural life. Their paintings reflect the changing seasons, the natural phenomena that guide their harvest, and the gods that protect them.

Subhash Bheel
Untitled
The Story by Saffronart

Bhuri Bai of Zher is one of the leading Bhil artists of our time. She started painting at a young age when the colors at a local festival inspired her to paint laughing goddesses and everyday scenes from the village. Her mother taught her how to make huts and decorate them with cows that became a prominent symbol in her work. In her adult life, she transferred the paintings from mud to paper and canvas, and continues to decorate the walls at the Museum of Mankind in Bhopal.

Lado Bai
Untitled
The Story by Saffronart

Another prominent artist is Lado Bai whose art reflects the spirituality and animism of her community. For years, she could not pursue her art because of financial constraints. Her luck turned when she was discovered by the famous Indian artist Jagdish Swaminathan. Swaminathan encouraged her to work for the Adivasi Lok Kala Academy where she had the opportunity to transfer images of festivals, rituals and animals from wall to paper.

Bhil artists are just starting to be internationally recognized. They paint the simple human joys of birth and other ceremonial occasions like harvests that are often forgotten in our modern society. The art of the Bhils along with that of other tribal groups reminds us what the simple pleasures in life are.

242 Carat Tanzanite Tiara: The Michael Scott Collection

December 5, 2012

Manjari Sihare of Saffronart shares details of a beautiful tanzanite tiara from the Collection of Michael Scott, of Apple fame

New York: I recently came across a gem collection which is touted to be the most important private collection of jewels in the United States. It is the collection of Michael Scott, the first president of Apple Computer. While Scott really needs no introduction, his name has come up in many-a-times in the infinite biographies of Steve Jobs that flooded the market after the latter’s untimely demise. With a University Degree in Nuclear Physics, Scott went onto become the President of Apple Computer in 1977, and in the short span of his five year tenure, Apple Computer became one of the most successful companies in the United States. During this time, Scott launched the Apple II personal computer and took the company public in 1980. He left the company in 1981 after a clash with Jobs, with millions of dollars worth of company stock.

5500 carat Star Rose Quart
The Michael Scott Gem Collection

The Michael Scott Gem Collection is known to have few rivals worldwide outside of royal families. Scott’s interest in gemstones dates to the mid 1980s. Characteristic of most seasoned collectors, he began with reading extensively on gemology to build a knowledge base. He then prepared a list of pieces he desired for his collection. A select group of brokers were entrusted with the job of going after his wish-list. The collection includes spectacular examples of all major as well as rare gemstones, and jewelry, including antique pieces from the mid-19th to early 20th centuries. One of the highlights is a 5500-carat star rose Brazilian quartz which is known to be the largest star rose quartz in the world.

Another magnificent piece of jewelry is a tiara accented with 803 brilliant cut tsavorite garnets and 913 cut diamonds encompassing a large tanzanite weighing 242 carats.

Tiara with a 242 carat Tanzanite, 803 tsavorite garnets and 913 cut diamonds
The Michael Scott Gem Collection

Tanzanite is the blue/purple variety of the mineral Zoisite (a calcium aluminium hydroxy silicate). Zoisite is naturally found in a variety of colours ranging from brown to green. Treating the mineral with heat can impart it with a brilliant blue colour, and it is blue Zoisite alone which is known as Tanzanite. The mineral was named by Tiffany & Co. after the country in which it was discovered, Tanzania. Some Tanzanite may include a purplish tinge, and is the most coveted variety of the stone, as the purple and the blue complement each other magnificently.

The geographical origin of the Tanzanite can be easily garnered from the name of the gem – the East African nation of Tanzania is the only place on Earth where this beautiful blue stone is found. How Tanzanite was created and discovered, on the other hand, is anything but simple. It is estimated that the creation of the stone began over 500 million years ago with the eruption of the volcano we now know as Mt. Kilimanjaro, which caused a shift in the physical and chemical properties of the earth around it, allowing the Zoisite crystals there to develop into Tanzanite.

Tanzanite was discovered only as recently as 1967 by Masai tribesmen tending to their cattle in the Merelani Hills of Tanzania. According to legend, heat from a grass fire near Kilimanjaro turned the naturally brown Zoisite crystals into a fantastic shade of blue, and the Masai tribesmen, enthralled by the sea of blue stones they had never laid eyes on before, became the first human gatherers of Tanzanite. Even today, the areas where significant deposits of Tanzanite can be found and commercially mined comprise a mere four square kilometers near the towns of Arusha and Moshi in the Merelani Hills.

A Set of Unmounted Tanzanites (25.11 carats approx.)
Everything that Glitters, The Story by Saffronart

Tanzanite is one of the few gemstones that can only be found in a concentrated region of the world, and this unique factor makes it highly sought after. The ever changing political, social and economic conditions of Tanzania also ensure that the stone is coveted, since collectors and suppliers cannot turn to another source to acquire it. Saffronart is pleased to offer a range of unmounted and strung tanzanites in our collection, Everything that Glitters featured on The Story. A spectacular acquisition is a set of six unmounted tanzanites – two pear-shaped, two oval-shaped and two trillions, with a total weight of almost 25.11 carats. Tanzanite is believed to have calming and balancing properties and was added to the American Gem Trade Association’s list of birthstones, as the birthstone for the month of December.

Read more about the Tanzanites in this interesting article published by the Time Magazine.

The Nizams of Hyderabad: An Epic Tale of Wealth, Loss and Reconciliation

December 4, 2012

Amy Lin of Saffronart explores how the wealthiest family in the world lost their fortune and regained their cultural heritage.

“Little Nizam”
Image Credit: Jewels of The Nizams Exhibition in Hyderabad

New York: A stunning gilt bronze liqueur set featured in the collection Art of the Pour on The Story by Saffronart sets the stage for one of the most dramatic tales of the 20^th century. The provenance of this magnificent piece can be traced back to none other than the legendary Nizams of Hyderabad.

A STUNNING PERIOD GILT BRONZE CAVE LIQUEUR SET
The Story by Saffronart

The Asaf Jahs of Hyderabad led extravagant lives that can only be found in fairy tales today. When this fine liqueur set was part of the Nizam’s collection, it represented a decadent lifestyle maintained by 14,000 staff members, including 3,000 Arab body guards, 40 chandelier dusters, 30 water fetchers and several servants whose sole privilege was to crack the Nizam’s walnuts. The gilt liqueur set is only a microscopic part of the entertainment ensemble that was seen at the Nizam’s lavish parties, with fine cigars and aged wines served around imported French furniture and chandeliers.

By the early 20^th century, the Nizam’s wealth accumulated to approximately £100 million in gold and silver bullion, and £400 million in jewelry alone, making him the richest man in the world. Nesting on the legendary Golconda diamond mines, the region of Hyderabad was rich in gems and natural resources. As strong allies of the British government, royalty and dignitaries from around the world presented the Nizam with gifts in gold and jewels for the nazar. It is said that jewels were strewn all over his palaces, but the Nizam always knew where they were kept.

The Viceroy Lord Curzon with the Nizam of Hyderabad in Aina Khana, 1905
Image Credit: http://www.23hq.com/Hyderabadlive/photo/1344977

Royal Banquet Falaknuma Palace, Hyderabad
Image Credit: http://www.flickr.com/photos/27053326@N00/1584944113

Yet, all that glitters cannot last indefinitely. By the 1930s, the Asaf Jah empire was rapidly falling apart. All the wealth was concentrated in the monarchy while the people lived in a destitute state. When Indian independence was declared in 1947, the Nizam wanted an independent Hyderabad. A year later, military action was taken in the region and the Nizam’s army surrendered unconditionally within days. As years passed, the family fortune fell into disarray as palaces were looted and royal treasures were sold in the street markets of Hyderabad. Bitter family feuds were fought over a dwindling inheritance to pay their mounting debts. Disillusioned by the extravagance and debauchery, the eighth Nizam, Mukarram Jah, abandoned his worldly possessions and moved to a sheep farm in Australia.

1342090012_413161453_12-Nizams-jewellery-

Jewelry from the Nizams’ Collection
Image Credit: http://3.bp.blogspot.com.

In the early nineties, Princess Esra, the first wife of the eighth Nizam was determined to turn the family’s fortune around. Together with the renowned lawyer Vijay Shankardass, she took on more than 2,000 cases of claimants vying for the royal jewels that resulted in death threats, political intrigue and secret transactions. Finally, the Indian government made the jewels part of its national heritage and banned their export or sale in public auction.

Nazim VII with his two eldest sons
Image Credit: http://www.23hq.com/Hyderabadlive/photo/1344977

In 1995, the State of India concluded the most complex sale in modern Indian history. After 23 years of negotiations and fallout threats, the government bought the Nazims’ jewelry for £40 million. Although the jewelry sold at a quarter of the market price, it became part of India’s national heritage. With the funds raised from this sale, Princess Esra was able to turn the main palace, Chowmahalla, into a museum. Upon entering the palace for the first time in more than 30 years, restorers found a world reclaimed from a bygone era. Armor, swords, and weapons were piled up in small mountains, while royal portraits crowded the walls. Long trains of sari and court dresses littered the floors and thousands of family photos lay open in cases. Needless to say, it was the largest restoration project undertaken in India at the time. After five years of dedication and hard work, the Chowmahalla finally opened to the public in 2005. Every day, more than 1,000 visitors come to see a palace that echoes the glory of the Nizams’ past.

The Chowmahalla Palace and Museum
Image Credit: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Chowmahalla_palace_inside.jpg

The ABC of Peridots

December 2, 2012

A Suite of Unmounted Peridots
Everything that Glitters, The Story by Saffronart

In conjunction with the dazzling collection of unmounted and strung gemstones on The Story, Everything that Glitters, Manjari Sihare of Saffronart traces the origins of the Peridot

New York: This week, Saffronart launched a collection of fine quality gemstones on The Story. On sale over the next three weeks is a beautiful selection of unmounted and strung stones including peridots, emeralds, tanzanites, rubies, amber, yellow beryls, sapphires in different colors and tourmalines. My personal favorite of these are the peridots, vivid green stones, with a slight tinge of gold, which I find to be the ideal gemstone hue to go with a light summer wardrobe.

Peridot or the ‘golden stone’, originally known as topazion, is a variety of the mineral olivine and is transparent. The earliest reference to the gem is in the Historia Naturalis written by the Roman historian Pliny in the 1st century. Pliny gives a detailed account of a gem named ‘topazion’ and dates its discovery to approximately 300 BCE. He writes: “Juba says that there is an island in the Red Sea called ‘Topazion,’ at a distance of three hundred stadia from the main land; that it is surrounded by fogs, and is often sought by navigators in consequence; and that, owing to this, it received its present name, the word ‘Topazion’ meaning ‘to seek’.”

Pliny’s island of ‘Topazion’ later known as Zabargad, was the largest of a group of islands off the south-eastern coast of Egypt in the Red Sea. Zabargad was once an oceanic volcano, which became visible above sea level after Africa and Asia’s tectonic plates collided. As a result of its unique mineral forming conditions, the island of Zabargad once possessed large deposits of the gem forsterite-olivine or Peridot. The ancient Egyptians treasured this beautiful green-gold gem and some of Cleopatra’s famed emeralds are now believed to have actually been peridots.

A Peridot Bead Necklace
Everything that Glitters, The Story by Saffronart

The origin of the word peridot itself is unclear. In fact, fascinated by its radiant green color, the Romans nicknamed it ‘the evening emerald’. The gem assumed the name peridot sometime in the 13th century, a term perhaps derived from the Arabic word ‘faridat’ meaning ‘gem’ or the French word ‘peritot’ meaning ‘unclear’. From the 18th century onward, the name peridot alone was used.

Considered to be a sacred gem, the peridot was often treated as a symbol of purity and virtue. The stone was believed to have magical properties, and was worn as protection against evil. Peridot is said to protect the body’s aura and bring its wearer success, peace and good luck.

Other ancient sources of the stone include Burma, South Africa and Brazil. In recent times, the United States, Pakistan and Kashmir are the largest producers of peridot. Most American peridots are 3 carats or less. Larger stones are mostly from Pakistan or China. A gem associated with success, power and good luck, peridots featured prominently in the collection of the Nizams of Hyderabad. Mahboob Ali Pasha, the sixth Nizam, was particularly fond of the gem, and had them set into belt buckles, rings and coat buttons.

The largest peridot in the world (310 carats)
From the Gem and Mineral collection of the Smithsonian’s National Museum of Natural History
Image credit: http://www.flickr.com/photos/publicresourceorg/493866936/

The largest cut peridot weighs around 310 carats, and is on display in Washington D.C. at the Smithsonian Institution. Similarly, in Moscow’s Diamond Treasury there is a 192.75 carat peridot that belonged to the Czars. A 146 carat peridot is on display in the Geological Museum, London. Smaller peridots are relatively less expensive, but their value considerably increases if they are over 5 carats, like one of those featured on The Story. Peridots with a weight of 10-15 carats or more are rare, making them quite valuable.

Antique Writing Boxes

November 21, 2012

In conjunction with the uniquely crafted Indian and Chinese boxes featured in The Story by Saffronart, Medha Kapur shares a note on Antique Writing Boxes or Lap Desks

An Organizer Table
The Story by Saffronart

Mumbai: Writing boxes or lap desks have existed for many centuries and in many cultures. More of a personal possession than the writing desk or table, these were mainly used by men and were also a symbol of social status. Essentially, writing boxes were small enough to be carried anywhere and often traveled with the owner. Antique lap desks had hinged writing surfaces, often covered in leather or felt, that flipped up to reveal storage space for papers. Individual compartments were designed to hold inkwells, pens, sealing wax, and other writing implements. Some desks also had concealed storage compartments.

From the late 1700s, writing boxes were frequently used in military expeditions and travels, besides libraries and drawing rooms. Several famous pieces of literature, contracts, letters and postcards have been penned on them. These boxes were hugely popular among army officers, who used them to write letters to their loved ones, as well as for business.

In the middle of the 18^th century, with industrialization, land reforms, new mechanical inventions and expanding overseas trade coming into play, there was a need for goods to be transported. This led to a boom in personal travel as well. Portable writing boxes became obligatory for more people as they transacted, traveled or wrote letters from home. Education was revived on many levels of society to cope with the new needs. These boxes were an item that connected with intellectuals; however, the style, quality, ornament and form of the desk also played an important role.

Thomas Jefferson’s Desk-1776

Thomas Jefferson conceptualized a design for a small lap desk that could be taken anywhere. This desk, one of numerous inventions Jefferson devised for his own convenience, was designed in May 1776 and built by Benjamin Randolph, a Philadelphia cabinetmaker and prominent patriot. Randolph built the desk for Jefferson based on his plans, using solid mahogany with inlays at both ends. Though small, the desk must have proved a very difficult project, with lots of fine, delicate details to be taken into account. The desk, being small and portable, provided the perfect companion to Jefferson during his travels, allowing him the comfort of reading and writing wherever he roamed. Many of Jefferson’s letters, memos and papers were composed on the desk, and it was also used in the drafting of the Declaration of Independence. Jefferson carried the desk with him until the year he died – at which point it was passed on to his grandson-in-law, Joseph Coolidge.

Another interesting writing box from the permanent collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York is a late 16th or early 17th century example from India, probably Gujarat or Sindh. This box consists of sections made from diverse materials including tin, wood, ivory and bone.

Writing box from the Metropolitan Museum of Art

Similar to these pieces is the unique Munim Chest or money lender’s box, part of the collections Boxed on The Story by Saffronart.

Munim Chest
The Story by Saffronart

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Bhil Art: Tribal Paintings from India

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242 Carat Tanzanite Tiara: The Michael Scott Collection

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The Nizams of Hyderabad: An Epic Tale of Wealth, Loss and Reconciliation

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The ABC of Peridots

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Antique Writing Boxes

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