A Mughal silver and ivory backscratcher
India, 18th century
L. 57 cm
Provenance:
Phillipe Missilier, Paris
A long silver handle with a raised floral panel at the base and an ivory handle with sections of square and round floral and geometric elements enhanced with traces of gilding. The top is adorned with an ivory hand, intended as a back-scratcher, of feminine form chased with henna-like flowers and carved, each finger fitted with a ring connected by a chain to a flower on the back of the hand, an Indian piece of jewellery known as a hathphool, literally "flower hand", the inside of the hand being chased with floral and geometric motifs more akin to henna.
L. 57 cm
Provenance:
Phillipe Missilier, Paris
A long silver handle with a raised floral panel at the base and an ivory handle with sections of square and round floral and geometric elements enhanced with traces of gilding. The top is adorned with an ivory hand, intended as a back-scratcher, of feminine form chased with henna-like flowers and carved, each finger fitted with a ring connected by a chain to a flower on the back of the hand, an Indian piece of jewellery known as a hathphool, literally "flower hand", the inside of the hand being chased with floral and geometric motifs more akin to henna.
Part of the Indian Ocean and Japan collections.
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