Two Mughal carved ivory chair legs and cross section, India, 17th century

This lot contains ivory. Sotheby's recommends that buyers check with their own government regarding any importation requirements prior to placing a bid. For example, US regulations restrict the import of elephant ivory and prohibit the import of African elephant ivory. Please note that Sotheby's will not assist buyers with CITES licence applications where a buyer elects to either collect or arrange their own shipping, nor will Sotheby's assist with the international movement of ivory by air, either as freight or through hand carry. Sotheby's shipping will only assist in shipping the lot to either domestic UK or EU destinations, where delivery is made by road transport. Please note that CITES licences are required for the export of any restricted species from the UK, including to EU countries. A buyer's inability to export or import these lots cannot justify a delay in payment or sale cancellation.

This set of two ivory legs, a cross-section and a chair backing display varied styles of carving and design. The legs appear to be inspired by those now in the Cleveland Museum of Art, inv. no.1975.102 and 1975.102, attributed to the Kushan period (300s AD), Begram, Afghanistan (see Czuma 1985). Those legs were found with a panel of the Mughal period. The present set has been the subject of a previous carbon 14 test confirming a seventeenth century date, placing them within the Mughal period.