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The Pamphlet Collection of Sir Robert Stout: Volume 23

[Photographs of articles of Indian manufacture in the Indian Museum]

Photographs of articles of Indian manufacture in the Indian Museum, London. Photographed under the direction of the Reporter on the products of India, by William Griggs, India Museum.

755.

A Frame containing:—

Photograph of Hindu Temple, Benares, N.W. Provinces.

This model, carved in sandalwood, and mounted in silver, was presented to the Indian Department of the Exhibition of 1862, by H. H. the Rajah Deonarain Sing, one of those native noblemen whose loyalty during the mutiny of 1857 received the marked recognition of the Imperial Government.

Photograph of Minaret, carved in blackwood, from Ahmedabad, Bombay.

Photograph of a Mahomedan Pulpit in the Mosque of Mahafiz Khan, Ahmedabad, Bombay.

This mosque was built in the reign of Mahomed Begarha (in the latter half of the 15th century), by Vazir Jamálúd-deen. The entrance to the temple is mean, and the court yard is paved with sandstone, but the coup'd'œil of the mosque is magnificent. This is the only masjid in Ahmedabad unimpaired by time and uninjured by man.

756.

A Frame containing:—

Two Photographs, one of a Glove Box, and another of the lid of the same, carved in sandalwood, Mysore, Madras.

Photograph of a Card Tray, carved in wood, foliage pattern, Seharunpore, N.W. Provinces.

Photograph of a Carving in Ivory, Berhampore. Hindu mythological subject, representing the goddess Durga and the lion; Rama with attendants; Ganesa, the god of wisdom; Saraswati, wife of Brahma, &c.

757.

A frame containing:—

Photograph of Flower Vase, elaborately carved in blackwood, Madras,

page 43

Photograph of Teacaddy and Stand, richly carved in black-wood, Madras.

Photograph of large oval Screen, carved in ebony, Madras.

Photograph of a Prie-dieu Chair, carved in ebony, Bombay.

The Madras and Bombay carvings in wood are remarkable for boldness in design and execution. The employment of native skill in the ornamentation of European articles of furniture was largely illustrated at the Exhibitions of 1851 and 1862, on which occasions every native exhibitor received an award from the juries.

758.

One Frame of Photographs, viz.:—

Two Specimens of Carving in Soapstone, from Agra, N.W. Provinces.

Mosaic Work. A Chess Table Top, of Marble, inlaid with carnelians in colours, lapis lazuli, &c. Agra, N.W. Provinces. Four Specimens of Painted Pottery.

No. 1, from Patna, Bengal.

No. 2, 3, from Amroha, N.W. Provinces.

No. 4, from Kotah.

Patna and Amroha are both celebrated for the production of pottery. In the report furnished with specimens of this manufacture from the last-named locality to the Exhibition of 1862, it is stated that the clay used is of a peculiar and very superior quality; and articles of use and ornament made from this material are greatly in demand, principally by Mahomedans, in the N.W. Provinces. At Amroha alone about 300,000 articles are annually manufactured, at an average of 1 rupee (2 shillings) per hundred.

759.

One Frame containing:—

Three Photographs. Front, back, and end views of a Cabinet of sandalwood, elaborately carved. Mysore, Madras.

760.

One Frame of Photographs, viz.:—

Portfolio of Inlaid Work, and Glove Box of carved sandalwood, with inlaid edges. Bombay.

Glove Box of carved ivory and inlaid work. Bombay.

Glove Box and Card Basket, of porcupine quills. Vizagapatam, Madras.

Card Basket of ivory and sandalwood. Bombay.

Inlaid Work.

page 44

This kind of work is slated to have been originally introduced from Persia into Scind, and thence to Bombay, where there are at the present time about fifty manufacturers. The materials employed are thin slips or rods of ivory, tin, sappan wood, ebony, and dyed horn. These, arranged so as to form the different patterns, are bound together in lengths, from the ends of which sections are cut off as required.

761.

One frame containing 2 Photographs, viz.:—

Arms and Armour (Nos. 1 to 15).

No. 1.Sword, "Khanda." Damascus blade, broad pointed; portion of front edge and back strengthened with steel plates ornamented with gold. This sword originally belonged to the Maharajah Holkar.
2.Dagger, "Peishlcubz." Damascus blade and ivory handle. Lahore, Punjab.
3.Sword, "Shumshere." A very handsome weapon, of Persian type. Damascus polished blade; back and front edges scalloped. Ends of blade forked or double pointed. Hilt of ivory and flowered steel. Sheath covered with embossed black leather. Waistbelt mounted with steel. Peshawur, Punjab.
4.Dagger, "Kuttar." Damascus blade, bearing inscription. Sidebars and centre finely gilt. Lahore, Punjab.
5.Sword, "Khora." Curved blade with broad end. Hilt formed of finely-chased circular plates of silver. Its ends of silver, chased and embossed. The grip bound with silver wire. Sheath covered with crimson velvet, and mounted with silver plate embossed. Used for decapitation. Nepal.
6.Sword, "Khora." Plain bright steel blade, intersected with gilt grooves. Hilt of steel. Sheath, black leather, ornamented with peacocks' quills. Mounted with fine gold, beautifully embossed and pierced into rich and delicate patterns. Nepal.
7.Dagger, "Kuttar." Damascus blade; sidebars of steel, gilt. The crossbars form the grip or handle. Beckaneer, Rajpootana.
8.Sword, "Shumshere." One of the famous "Khorassan" ringing blades, of very fine Damascus steel; long and deeply curved. Hilt, ivory and steel, "Kooft"* of Persian type. Sheath, covered with black leather, embossed and perforated to show talc underneath. A good example of leather work. Peshawur, Punjab.
9.Dagger, "Peishlcubz." Damascus blade. Ivory handle. Lahore, Punjab.page 45
10.Sword, "Patisa." Damascus steel, double-edged blade. A very ancient Mahratta weapon.
11, 12, 13, 14.Suit of Armour, consisting of helmet, shield, gauntlets, and cuirass. The helmet is very finely-embossed and studded with cut crystals. The chain mail attached to it consists of very fine rings; the plume of herons' feathers; shield, breastplates, and gauntlets are of Damascus steel, richly inlaid with gold, in scroll pattern. Lahore, Punjab.
15.Spear, "Sangoo." Steel. Round shaft, triangular blade. The grip is in the centre of the weapon. Vizianagarum, Madras.
Agricultural Implements:—
Nos. 1 to 7.Implements used in Agriculture, viz.:—Pickaxes, Spades, Mamorties, &c.
8.A Plough. Nepal.
9.A Plough. Broach, Bombay.
10.A Plough. Nepal.
11.A Plough. Goojerat.
12.A Bullock Hoe, Broach, Bombay.
13.A Drill Plough, with bamboo reeds through which the seed passes. Nepal.
No. 14.Drill Plough, ditto. Broach, Bombay.
No. 15."Halke," for grass. Belgaum, Bombay.
No. 16.Harrow. Nepal.
No. 17.Rake. Belgaum, Bombay.
No. 18.Yellia Coontie. Broach, Bombay.
No. 19.Hoot, or rice weeder. Belgaum, Bombay.
No. 20.Coontie, for 6 or 8 bullocks. Broach, Bombay.
No. 21."Oriali Bandy," a cart. Aska, Madras.
No. 22.Sugar Cane Mill. Cuttack, Bengal.
No. 23."Dhankie," or rice busker. Patna, Bengal.
No. 24.Rice Mill. Scind.
No. 25."Churka, for "ginning" or separating cotton from its fibre. Bombay.
No. 26."Churka, for "ginning" or separating cotton from its fibre. Bengal.
No. 27-8.Ploughing and Harrowing with Bullocks (models). Madras.
No. 29.Ploughing and Harrowing with Bullocks (models). Bengal.
No.30.A kind of Scarifier, drawn over the land by bullocks. Bengal.