A SET OF TWENTY-TWO EXTREMELY RARE DRAWINGS BY OOMERSEE MAWJEE, BHUJ, AND HARILAL OOMERSEE, BARODA
a) 4.3 x 4.8 in (11.1 x 12.3 cm)
b) 4.4 x 6.9 in (11.2 x 17.7 cm)
c) 4.5 x 8.6 in (11.5 x 22 cm)
d) 5 x 7.8 in (12.7 x 20 cm)
e) 8.2 x 13.1 in (21 x 33.5 cm)
f) 8.6 x 7 in (22 x 18 cm)
g) 8.8 x 8.8 in (22.5 x 22.5 cm)
h) 8.9 x 6.8 in (22.7 x 17.5 cm)
i) 9 x 13.3 in (23 x 34 cm)
j) 9 x 6.3 in (23 x 16 cm)
k) 10 x 7.8 in (25.5 x 20 cm)
l) 10 x 7.8 in (25.5 x 20 cm)
m) 10 x 14.5 in (25.5 x 37 cm)
n) 10.6 x 7.9 in (27 x 20.3 cm)
o) 11.2 x 16.7 in (28.5 x 42.5 cm)
p) 12.4 x 10 in (31.5 x 25.5 cm)
q) 13.1 x 16.5 in (33.5 x 42 cm)
r) 13.1 x 16.5 in (33.5 x 42 cm)
s) 13.1 x 16.3 in (33.5 x 41.5 cm)
t) 16.5 x 13.1 in (42 x 33.5 cm)
u) 16.6 x13.3 in (42.2 x 34 cm)
v) 21.6 x 14.9 in (55 x 38 cm)
Unsigned (Attributed to O.M. Baroda): a), b), c), d), f), k), p), q), r) and s)
Unsigned (Attributed to O. M. Bhuj): j)
Stamped Harilal P. Oomersee, Baroda: g), l), m), o), t) and v)
Signed Oomersee M V Sons, Bhuj, Cutch: i), e) and u)
Stamped Oomersee Mawji, Bhuj, Cutch: n) and h)
A set of workshop drawings rendered in pencil and ink illustrating concepts for a range of silverware including tea services, rosewater sprinklers, rings, belt buckles, boxes, trophies, goblets, and sweetmeat dishes. Many of the drawings contain craftsman's notes.
Oomersee Mawjee and Sons, the company that was founded by the celebrated Kutch silversmith Oomersee Mawjee, were known for their unparalleled skills in making intricate silverware in the 19th century. Equally breathtaking are the workshop drawings, that would have provided patrons with a visual of what the finished product would look like. Workshop drawings were accompanied by either Gujarati or English notations, some in great detail, with specific instructions to the workshop head, others with the weight and price of the object.
"The drawings come from the Oomersee workshops, both in Bhuj, the capital of Kutch, and the neighbouring princely state of Baroda, where one of Oomersee's sons established a workshop." (Vidya Dehejia, "A Cache Uncovered: Workshop Drawings of Oomersee Mawjee & Sons of Kutch", Delight in Design: Indian Silver for the Raj, Mapin Publishing, Ahmedabad, p. 38)
a) 4.3 x 4.8 in (11.1 x 12.3 cm)
b) 4.4 x 6.9 in (11.2 x 17.7 cm)
c) 4.5 x 8.6 in (11.5 x 22 cm)
d) 5 x 7.8 in (12.7 x 20 cm)
e) 8.2 x 13.1 in (21 x 33.5 cm)
f) 8.6 x 7 in (22 x 18 cm)
g) 8.8 x 8.8 in (22.5 x 22.5 cm)
h) 8.9 x 6.8 in (22.7 x 17.5 cm)
i) 9 x 13.3 in (23 x 34 cm)
j) 9 x 6.3 in (23 x 16 cm)
k) 10 x 7.8 in (25.5 x 20 cm)
l) 10 x 7.8 in (25.5 x 20 cm)
m) 10 x 14.5 in (25.5 x 37 cm)
n) 10.6 x 7.9 in (27 x 20.3 cm)
o) 11.2 x 16.7 in (28.5 x 42.5 cm)
p) 12.4 x 10 in (31.5 x 25.5 cm)
q) 13.1 x 16.5 in (33.5 x 42 cm)
r) 13.1 x 16.5 in (33.5 x 42 cm)
s) 13.1 x 16.3 in (33.5 x 41.5 cm)
t) 16.5 x 13.1 in (42 x 33.5 cm)
u) 16.6 x13.3 in (42.2 x 34 cm)
v) 21.6 x 14.9 in (55 x 38 cm)
Unsigned (Attributed to O.M. Baroda): a), b), c), d), f), k), p), q), r) and s)
Unsigned (Attributed to O. M. Bhuj): j)
Stamped Harilal P. Oomersee, Baroda: g), l), m), o), t) and v)
Signed Oomersee M V Sons, Bhuj, Cutch: i), e) and u)
Stamped Oomersee Mawji, Bhuj, Cutch: n) and h)
A set of workshop drawings rendered in pencil and ink illustrating concepts for a range of silverware including tea services, rosewater sprinklers, rings, belt buckles, boxes, trophies, goblets, and sweetmeat dishes. Many of the drawings contain craftsman's notes.
Oomersee Mawjee and Sons, the company that was founded by the celebrated Kutch silversmith Oomersee Mawjee, were known for their unparalleled skills in making intricate silverware in the 19th century. Equally breathtaking are the workshop drawings, that would have provided patrons with a visual of what the finished product would look like. Workshop drawings were accompanied by either Gujarati or English notations, some in great detail, with specific instructions to the workshop head, others with the weight and price of the object.
"The drawings come from the Oomersee workshops, both in Bhuj, the capital of Kutch, and the neighbouring princely state of Baroda, where one of Oomersee's sons established a workshop." (Vidya Dehejia, "A Cache Uncovered: Workshop Drawings of Oomersee Mawjee & Sons of Kutch", Delight in Design: Indian Silver for the Raj, Mapin Publishing, Ahmedabad, p. 38)