Back-Rest of a Throne
Description
The back - rest has designs of creepers representing forest with Krishna and cows in between. Perhaps it was a part of Vaishnava baithaka. Art of ivory carving has been in existence in India since very early times. Ivory objects were found at several of the Indus Valley sites, (3300 B.C. - 1800 B.C.). Since then, ivory as a medium was used for carving all kinds of objects. They include images, utilitarian objects like jewellery boxes, combs, paper cutters, frames as well as jewellery pieces. Very interestingly ivory was used for making furniture, like the backs of thrones, cots, chairs, doors, palanquins etc. It was even used for carving hilts of swords, daggers and gunpowder flasks.
Delhi, Agra, Lucknow, Ahmedabad, Murshidabad, Mysore and Vishakhapattanam were some of the centres of ivory craft. The craft is now almost at a standstill due to the ban on the trade of ivory to protect elephants. These days ivory carvers rework on old ivory or have attempted to substitute the natural ivory by a form of acrylic to which powdered ivory is added to achieve the yellowish effect.
Collection
Indian Decorative Art
Object Type
Decorative Art
Material
Ivory mounted on wood
Schools/Culture/Period
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Technique
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Date
17th Century CE
Location
Gujarat
Dimension
Ht: 25 cms.