A Mughal Pietra Dura Marble Footrest, India, circa 1700

Spink & Son, London;

Private Collection, Japan;

Anonymous sale, Christie's, London, 25 June 2020, lot 77;

Simon Ray, London;

From whom acquired by the present collector.

London, Spink & Son, Visions of the Orient: Indian & Islamic Works of Art, 17 October - 3 November 1995, no. 32.

Known under the Mughals as ‘Parchin Kari’, the technique of inlaying precious stones into other precious stones is an ancient one that became particularly fashionable in India via the introduction of European, notably Italian, Pietra Dura works of art. Although closely associated with Mughal India, where it reached remarkable heights under the patronage of Akbar, Jahangir, and Shah Jahan, the origins of this technique have long been debated. Related traditions flourished in Renaissance Italy and historical accounts record the presence of European craftsmen at the Mughal court, suggesting channels through which technical and artistic ideas may have been exchanged.

Whatever its ultimate origins, Indian artisans transformed the medium into a distinctive artistic language characterised by luxuriant floral ornament and exceptional technical virtuosity. Among the most celebrated examples of this technique is the Taj Mahal, whose sumptuous hardstone inlay represents the pinnacle of Mughal parchinkari. Perfected under the Mughals, the Taj Mahal is an example of the use of this technique on a large scale. The present footrest is a finely executed example of the technique. The square top is delicately embellished with semi-precious stones forming a radiating floral motif at the centre, framed by elegant meandering borders, exemplifying the precision and refinement characteristic of Mughal hardstone craftsmanship.