64 Anglo Indian furniture T
he British possession of the Indian subcontinent which
lasted for 100 years under the auspices of the East India Company, and then for another century under the British Crown is looked back on as a time when humanity, fairness and respect to the existing cultures were very often surrendered up to blatant rapacity and wealth making through empire building. The Company days in particular have been shown to have been unashamedly mercenary times. It is, therefore, important to illustrate
those brighter moments of cross-cultural understanding which did occur, when those glimmers of light can be identified. One of those is definitely the emergence during the later 18th century of what came to be known as Anglo Indian furniture. This furniture was made originally entirely to order, predominantly for British political and military officers whose stay in India was to be long enough to require proper domestic furnishings. They wanted their furniture to be like it was at home, and they described what they wanted to local furniture makers and craftsmen. The Indian artisans saw these commissions through their own cultural lens, and
Sold for £1060
Bearnes Hampton & Littlewood Okehampton Street, Exeter. EX4 1DU Tel: 01392 413100
www.bhandl.co.uk
whilst sticking to the basic requested requirements of dimension, shape and form, often embellished their work with very un-English mythical creatures, stylised foliage, sun bursts and other fantastical vernacular adornments. They also utilised the timbers and the metalware that were available to them, and these of course differed from the norms of British cabinet making – padouk and rosewood becoming popular alternatives; as well as using differing construction
methods and joints to actually fabricate the pieces. The results were functional and recognisably
Sold for £875
British in form, and yet also exotic – almost outlandish to the British eye. Four such pieces were sold in the recent Spring Fine Quarterly auction at Bearnes Hampton & Littlewood; the card table, sideboard, cabinet bookcase (illustrated here) and occasional table, all taking the very accepted forms of Regency England, but
interpreted into wonderful local works of art –the Makaras (sea monsters) on the sideboard gallery are particularly noteworthy. Given the age, the timber quality and the
Sold for £250
artistic merit of these pieces, (a virtually identical sideboard is held at the V & A in London), they are surprisingly affordable.
ANTIQUES & MARITIME VALUATION DAY
KINGSBRIDGE Tuesday 26th July Harbour House, The Promenade 10.00am - 12.00 noon
Sold for £2,800
St. Edmund’s Court, Okehampton Street, Exeter. EX4 1DU T: 01392 413100 W:
www.bhandl.co.uk
E:
enquiries@bhandl.co.uk
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