Two Anglo-Indian gilt-heightened repoussé silver and teak footstools, possibly Baudh, Bengal Presidency, last quarter 19th century

There is a long tradition in India of adorning furniture with sheet silver or gold, as opposed to the gold leaf used in European gilt furniture – Amin Jaffer indicates that thrones decorated in this way are mentioned in ancient Hindu texts like the Rig Veda, which dates back to the second millennium BCE.¹ A similar footstool from the Baudh region can be seen alongside its magnificent matching throne chair at the V&A (accession numbers Is.10 1983-Is.10 c 1983). Silvered furniture from the Anglo-Indian period usually shows clear European influence in its design and construction, sometimes mediating between the two traditions: a similar silvered stool without upholstery in the collection of the V&A may also have been used as a low table in a traditional Indian interior, where sitting on the floor was common (accession number IM.289-1927). This specific model of stool is well-documented, sometimes only in silver without the gold-heightened details – it can be seen, for example, in the photos of a famous Maison Jansen interior, the hall of the Caja Ratjada in Mallora.² Similar pairs have sold at Christie’s London, 19h March 2008, lot 185 and on 29^th October 2009, lot 410. An intriguing contrast is shown by the Anglo-Indian stool sold in these Rooms on 13^th January 2009 as lot 34, which with its cabriole legs and acanthus decoration demonstrates clear influence of European Rococo design.

¹ Amin Jaffer, Furniture from British Indian and Ceylon, London, 2001

² James Archer Abbott, Jansen, New York, 2006.