Amin Jaffer Picks An Indian Blackwood Armchair

Tags

1850 to 1900, 19th century, Ahmedabad, Amin Jaffer, An Indian Blackwood Armchair, blackwood, Bombay, Bombay blackwood industry, Bombay Presidency, carving, English pattern book designs, Estimated price, exuberant, From the Vault at Christie’s, furniture makers, Gujarat, Interiors sale, London, Louis XV style, luxury, mid-19th century, middle 18th century, pale pink covered seat, pierced foliage, Profusely carved, rich, rosewood furniture, Surat, third quarter, traditional motifs

An Indian Blackwood Armchair
Bombay Presidency, third quarter, 19th century
Profusely carved with pierced foliage and a pale pink covered seat
Estimated price: $1,000-1,400

From about 1850 to 1900, Bombay was the production centre of a particular type of rosewood furniture known as ‘blackwood’. It was typified by its rich, exuberant carving which was often pierced right through.

Amin Jaffer picks a Spanish Diamond-Set Gold-Hilted Sword

Tags

1813, 19th century, Alava, ally respectively, Amin Jaffer, armour, ART & AUCTIONS, Baron Raglan, Britain, British soldier, Cefntilla Court, Christie's, coat of arms, Craftsmanship, diamond-hilted, Don Alava military general, double-edged, Duke of Wellington, France, generations, gold, illustrations, inscription, jewels, Lord Fitzroy Somerset, medals, military legacy, Monmouthshire, opposition, silver, Somerset, Spain, sword, Trafalgar, Vitoria, Waterloo

A Spanish Diamond-Set Gold-Hilted Sword
Circa 1814-1815
Inscribed ‘JUAN MARTIN’ and ‘… D TOL … 1786’
Size: 83.8 centimetres (33 inches)
Estimated price: £30,000-50,000

Born in Vitoria, Spain, Don Alava (1770-1843) was an accomplished military general who is believed to be the only person present at both the battles of Trafalgar and Waterloo, as the opposition and as an ally respectively, joining the insurgence against France after Trafalgar. Alava was awarded this beautiful double-edged gold and diamond-hilted sword by the city of Vitoria in gratitude for preventing the sacking of the city in 1813.

The magnificence of the detail in the inscription to Alava and the depiction of his coat of arms reflects the high quality craftsmanship. The glorious use of jewels and illustrations emphasise the great honour bestowed upon him. Alava later presented this diamond-monogrammed blade to his friend, Lord Fitzroy Somerset, with whom he fought alongside the Duke of Wellington.

The first Baron Raglan, Somerset was a well-known 19th century British soldier and his military legacy has continued for five generations in Britain. Over the last 150 years, the family has amassed an impressive collection of armour, art, medals and silver, since residing in Cefntilla Court, Monmouthshire, after Somerset’s death in 1855.

First published in the Adbuzzzz Section of The DAWN National Weekend Advertiser on April 1, 2012.