Antique Royal Indian Silver Fly Whisk Chauri Islamic Mughal India

The cast and finely chiseled whisk head consist of a single beaded collar with a floral design below and two rows of casts and hand sculptured in relief stylized crowned animals' heads (each row with 31 heads, which come to 62 heads in total).

On the top of a tapered handle are mounted multiple bulbous rings; at the bottom, a finial composed of multiple bulbous rings surmounted by a faceted knob pierced with a hole for threading silk suspension string.

Most of the Indian silver fly whisks are made of wood coated with a thin sheet of silver. This particular piece is made of thick silver.

The fly whisk had been a symbol of royalty from ancient times, and this symbol was adopted at an early stage in India's Islamic period.

During the Mughal period, the ruler appeared at courtly ceremonies, accompanied by an official known as a chamardar, who was bearing Chauri, which was the most solemn symbol of kingship after the umbrella in Mughal India and other Muslim monarchies, as far as North Africa.

Please see the Algerians Fly Whisk Incident (1827).

A similar form fly whisk is published in the book "Tulips, Arabesques and Turbans: Decorative Arts from the Ottoman Empire" by YANNI PETSOPOULOS. Plate.27

Another related chauri is published in the book: Gold, Silver & Bronze from Mughal India by Mark Zebrowski. Page.74. No.56.

For comparable Chauri in the collection of The Victoria and Albert Museum in London please see the link below:

https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O15459/chowry-or-fly-whisk-chamer-fly-whisk-unknown/

For similar Chauri in the collection of The Ashmolean Museum of Art and Archaeology in England please see the link below:

http://jameelcentre.ashmolean.org/collection/921/per_page/100/offset/50/sort_by/date/category/other/object/21665

REFERENCES:

1. A related Indian silver fly whisk, dating to the 19th century was sold for £2,000 =US$ 3378 by Christie’s) London (South Kensington), Arts of Indian 12 June 2014, LOT 172. British Pound to US Dollar Effective Exchange Rate on 12 June 2014: 1 GBP = 1.6986 USD. So, £2,000 was about a US$3378 (over 8 years ago).

Please see the link below:

https://www.poundsterlinglive.com/bank-of-england-spot/historical-spot-exchange-rates/gbp/GBP-to-USD-2014

2. A related Indian silver fly whisk, dating to the 18th century is published on the internet Alain.R.Truong website. Please see the link below:

http://www.alaintruong.com/archives/2014/03/15/294...

3. A pair of 19th century Indian gilt-copper fly whisks are published in the Christie’s auction catalog Art of the Islamic and Indian Worlds London. 21 Apr 2016. Lot: 33. Sold for GBP 10,625 = US$ 15,234

Please see the link below:

https://www.christies.com/en/lot/lot-598519

British Pound to US Dollar Effective Exchange Rate on 12 June 2014: 1 GBP = 1.4338 USD. So, £10,625 was about a US$ 15,234 (over 8 years ago).

Please see the link below:

https://www.poundsterlinglive.com/bank-of-england-spot/historical-spot-exchange-rates/gbp/GBP-to-USD-2016

The buyer will be provided with a copy of the pages from the mentioned references, together with a certificate of authenticity.

Authentic antique Mughal fly whisks are very rare, and few have survived to this day. They rarely appear in museum collections or for sale and are almost impossible to get.

PROVENANCE: Acquired from an old Canadian Collection of Islamic Art.

APPROXIMATE MEASUREMENTS:

Overall length with the yak hair: 88 cm (34.65 inches) Length of the handle: 38 cm (14.96 inches)

The diameter of the head:8.9 cm (3.5 inches).

WEIGHT: approximately: 7.18 grams (25.3267 Ounces).

CONDITION: Showing age and usage, minor dents, the head, and the bottom finial has a fine patina. Overall, it is in fine condition and is without repairs.