Indian Artifacts in Museums abroad

[Yagya]

Well isn't that more of mythology than history?

[kannan infratech]

Originally Posted by Yagya

Well isn't that more of mythology than history?

There are many historical sites and records & books with tell tale evidence that Ravan was a very popular ruler of Srilanka. He was a Brahman King - well educated and took care of the people well.

Except the Sita Abduction episode, there is no other blemish.

He had developed many engg devices including Pushpak Vimana - which was run with white herbal concoction (Herbal fuel). Lots of War / Battle equipments - flame throwers / stone throwers / multiple arrow Bows etc.

I even visited the place where charred remains of a past palace remain (Hanuman burnt it). I also visited where Sita was kept - Ashok Van. There is a beautiful garden nearby.

Chinmaya Mission and a Buddhist Priest in Srilanka are working & collecting all the evidences. Thet are also arranging pilgrimage / tours to all relevant places.

Similarly I read somewhere that Tippu Sultan had also designed lots of war equipments, guns etc and they were superior to the ones English had.

[Marathaman]

Kannan sir. You are confusing mythology and history. "Pushpak Viman" is a (recently concocted) myth. People often identify real places with mythological ones, just like "Ram Setu".

[kannan infratech]

Originally Posted by Marathaman

Kannan sir. You are confusing mythology and history. "Pushpak Viman" is a (recently concocted) myth. People often identify real places with mythological ones, just like "Ram Setu".

Let us keep the arguments for another day.

I went through many records - mostly in Bali language, translated for our benefit by the Buddhist monk.

[Vicvin86]

Originally Posted by kannan infratech

Similarly I read somewhere that Tippu Sultan had also designed lots of war equipments, guns etc and they were superior to the ones English had.

Rockets to be specific. He is the first one to use it in combat.

http://history.msfc.nasa.gov/rocketry/11.html

[Marathaman]

Okay. But I just want to explain that descripions of flying chariots and the like doesn't mean that the technology actually existed back then. People tend to re-interpret these things by looking at modern technology and say "oh this must have been an aeroplane/flying saucer/nuclear bomb/ballistic missie" etc.etc.
The text when taken in its original context often has metaphorical meaning or simply flight of the imagination.

[yaatri]

Originally Posted by Yagya

Well isn't that more of mythology than history?

Ram, Ravan or Lanka have no historical basis as Bible makes no mention of Ram, Ravan or Lanka. The Bible is the ultimate historical document.
Obviously the legend of am is mythology.

[Yagya]

Each piece in the exhibit is expected to fetch at least 50,000 pounds and more when it is auctioned later at the Art of the Islamic and Indian Worlds sale in London.

A Christie's employee holds a painting from the School of Guhlam'Ali, Delhi, early 19th century entitled 'The meeting of Maharaja Mudhoji Bhosle Sen Sahib,Rajah of Nagpur and Maharaja Ishwari Sen Bahadur, Rajah of Mandi'.

late 18th century Indian emerald, ruby and diamond parrot (estimate: £400,000-600,000), which is one of seven spectacular Mughal and Deccani jewelled gold objets de vertu featured.

A FINE MUGHAL GEM-SET SILVER AND GOLD ROSEWATER SPRINKLER
NORTH INDIA, 17TH/18TH CENTURY £80,000 - £120,000

A MUGHAL GOLD-DAMASCENED PUSH DAGGER (KATAR)
INDIA, PROBABLY 18TH CENTURY £2,500 - £3,500

A JEWEL-ENCRUSTED GOLD-MOUNTED DAGGER (JAMBIYYA)
YEMEN AND INDIA, LATE 19TH CENTURY

A FINE ENAMELLED AND GEM-SET GOLD COVERED JAR
DECCAN OR MUGHAL INDIA, 18TH CENTURY

A FINE DIAMOND-INSET AND ENAMELLED GOLD COVERED BOWL AND STAND
DECCAN OR MUGHAL INDIA, LATE 18TH CENTURY

A FINE ENAMELLED AND GEM-SET GOLD ROSEWATER SPRINKLER
DECCAN OR MUGHAL INDIA, LATE 18TH/EARLY 19TH CENTURY

For more pieces and zoomed versions of the ones posted above click here

[kannan infratech]

Originally Posted by yaatri

Ram, Ravan or Lanka have no historical basis as Bible makes no mention of Ram, Ravan or Lanka. The Bible is the ultimate historical document.
Obviously the legend of am is mythology.

Please read posts in Spirituality thread

[Yagya]

18th century Indian painting fetches $302,500

NEW YORK: An unrecorded portrait by 18th century artist Bagta, who was involved with the Maharanas of Udaipur and the Rawats of Devgarh in Rajasthan, sold for six times the estimated price at $302,500 at an auction here.

The remarkable work and cover lot to Bonhams' Indian, Himalayan & Southeast Asian Art sale last month dates back to 1808 and measures 16 x 22 inches.

According to the auction house, this work is a rare representation of the larger scale depiction of Bagta (1761-1814 ). It had a pre-sale estimate of $30,000-50 ,000. The entire auction realized $3,203,225.

The portrait of the imposing figure of Rawat Gokal Das celebrating holi with his consorts was consigned by a collector who bought the piece two decades ago for a modest $125. Bagta was featured in the exhibition which opened at the Museum Rietberg, Zurich , and is currently on display at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York.

source

[Yagya]

Man’s robe of white cotton, with repeating staggered pattern of embroidered floral motifs in gold-wrapped thread and floss silk. Long sleeves, front opening, floor-length gathered skirt - 18th century, India.

This elegant robe would have been worn by a man at one of the courts of northern India. The floor-length gathered skirt was popular in the 18th century, in contrast to the shorter robes of the previous century. The staggered floral design is typical of late Mughal design, and is often seen printed on textiles, as well as embroidered as in this example.

Copyright: © V&A Images

[Yagya]

cc:http://www.sothebys.com/en/catalogue...9004.html/316/

[Yagya]

cc:http://www.britishmuseum.org/researc...asset_id=22887

[Yagya]

Bonhams to sell private collection of Indian Temple Jewellery

Bonhams is about to sell an inspiring array of Indian Temple Jewellery from the 17th, 18th, and 19th centuries, all from one impressive private collection. Each of the 28 pieces were used to ornament the Hindu gods. As tributes to the deities, these works of art are beautifully made of gold, diamonds and rubies combined with centuries old Indian craftsmanship.

Estimated at a value between £300,000 and £400,000, the 28-piece collection consists of a mixture of temple treasury that includes brooches, earrings, necklaces, pendants, hair braids and solid gold bulls set with striking jewels. In Hindu mythology, many goddesses are described as golden-hued, a beauty that literally never loses its lustre, and this collection is testament to that idea. Alice Bailey, Head of Bonhams Indian and Islamic Department, says: "The collection is in immaculate condition. Its value lies in the wide variety, good quality and sheer range of temple jewellery seen among these [28] lovely pieces."

The relationship of jewellery such as this to the deities, religion, and culture is intrinsically linked. By adorning gods on special occasions such as Shiva, Krishna and Nandi with these ornaments, it was thought to bring good fortune. Sometimes there is a direct association between a type of jewellery donated and a request from a deity. Women desiring marriage or children often give bangles. Some of these pieces were designed to be worn personally as a tribute to the Hindu gods - devotional pieces such as the large variety of braids in the collection.

The quality of the gold is remarkable and is mostly 25 and 26 carats, as opposed to the 24 carats we are used to. But India's love affair with gold stretches back across centuries and even millennia, including using these much higher value golds. And it's not just the gold, but the exquisite craftsmanship so evident in every one, not to mention the stones themselves that include diamonds and rubies.

It's rare to be able to buy jewellery with such fascinating history, and even rarer to have a chance of owning jewellery quite literally intended for the Gods. The collection will be sold through private treaty by Bonhams.

[Marathaman]

oooh. pretty.

[Arasu]

The History of the Hope Diamond

The history of the stone that was eventually named the Hope diamond began when the French merchant traveller, Jean Baptiste Tavernier, purchased a 112 3/16-carat diamond. This diamond, which was most likely from the Kollur mine in Golconda, India, was somewhat triangular in shape and crudely cut. Its color was described by Tavernier as a "beautiful violet."

Tavernier sold the diamond to King Louis XIV of France in 1668 with 14 other large diamonds and several smaller ones. In 1673 the stone was recut by Sieur Pitau, the court jeweler, resulting in a 67 1/8-carat stone. In the royal inventories, its color was described as an intense steely-blue and the stone became known as the "Blue Diamond of the Crown," or the "French Blue." It was set in gold and suspended on a neck ribbon that the king wore on ceremonial occasions.

http://mineralsciences.si.edu/_img/hope/hope.jpg

[Licit Mortal]

Originally Posted by Yagya

Bonhams to sell private collection of Indian Temple Jewellery

How did it go there? Were these looted from our temples? Where are the golden and gem stone studded crowns of our kings? Not even a single crown is visible so far.

[Marathaman]

Do you have to quote the whole post?

[Licit Mortal]

sorry about that. Corrected it now. Did not intend to cause inconvenience!

[Yagya]

Originally Posted by Licit Mortal

How did it go there? Were these looted from our temples? Where are the golden and gem stone studded crowns of our kings? Not even a single crown is visible so far.

Well we don't know how it exactly got there but we know that it was put together by a collector from Spain with an interest in Temple jewelry who then sold it to Bonhams.

There is a possibility that some of the pieces could be looted/stolen but it is unlikely. A lot of the rich families, Maharajas etc had their own private temples as well and would have adorned their deities with such jewelry so it is very likely of them to have sold it. Some of the pieces the pieces would have belonged to a devdasi or a rich lady.

Regarding crowns, if you look closely then I have posted images of two crowns. One of of Bahadur Shah Zafar II and one presented to Edward VII Prince of Wales by the Taluqdars of Oudh.

Other than that, the Indian princes didn't really wear crowns as they were banned by the British. Only the British monarch could wear one. The Princes also favoured turban jewelry as that was more traditional anyway. The Mughals also had turban jewelry. Indian rulers didn't really have crowns if one leaves out few exceptions. The temples down south would have had crowns. Some of them still do.