Mother of pearl ewer achieves $114,500 at Lyon & Turnbull

A mother of pearl ewer that was once owned by Lord Curzon, viceroy of India, has sold with strong results at Lyon & Turnbull's October 23 sale in the UK.

Lord Curzon Mother of Pearl ewer
A similar example is housed in the British Museum, while Thomas Cromwell is recorded to have given a mother of pearl ewer to Henry VIII as a New Year's gift



The piece is a magnificent example of Gujarati art from the 17th century, achieving a total of £70,850 ($114,506). It has been in the family of Lord Curzon of Kedelston since he was viceroy of India between 1899 and 1906, and passed to the vendor by descent.

Gujarat, situated on the northwest coast of India, was once renowned for its mother of pearl wares created in an unusually European style.

An almost identical ewer to the present lot is housed in the British Museum, which states that it was originally mistaken for an Italian work and that identification continues to be a problem for scholars today.

Stay ahead of the latest collecting trends with our free weekly newsletter.

Featured products

Elvis Presley Authentic Strand of Hair
Elvis Presley Authentic Strand of Hair
Sale price£399
In stock
Fidel Castro signed certificateFidel Castro Signed Certificate
Fidel Castro signed certificate
Sale price£2,995
In stock
King Henry VIII Autographed DocumentKing Henry VIII Autographed Document
King Henry VIII Autographed Document
Sale price£55,000
In stock