Lot 98
FOUR CASKET SECTIONS BY BOGI LAL MALI
INDIA, BIHAR, PURNEA DISTRICT, 1938
£2,520
Auction: Indian Paintings from the Collection of William & Mildred Archer | Lots 84 to 152 | 12 June at 10am
Description
gouache on rice paper, each inscribed on the reverse in pencil with their place of origin, artist, titles and series ‘I’, mounted
Dimensions
each 29cm x 43cm (11 3/8in x 16 7/8in)
Footnote
Lots 98 to 104 are a collection of brightly painted caskets and lanterns that are a form of Indian art produced by the Mali caste. The Archers collected these between 1937 and 1938, when Bill was posted to Purnea. These were mainly for use during the festival of the snake goddess, Bishahari. Sections of these were executed on rice paper, primarily in bright yellow, magenta and green, and mounted on to lightweight bamboo sticks. Mildred writes, ‘All were brusquely simplified and it was impossible to ignore their Picasso-like affinities.’
