Friday 1 May 2026

Lot 209

An illustration to a Ragamala series : Malhar ragini,Bundi, Rajasthan, North India, 18th...

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Lot 209

An illustration to a Ragamala series : Malhar ragini,
Bundi, Rajasthan, North India, 18th...

Price Realised: £3,411

Estimate: £3,000 - £5,000

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Price realised is hammer price plus fees (31.2% Buyers Premium inclusive of VAT).

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Lot 209

Description

An illustration to a Ragamala series : Malhar ragini,
Bundi, Rajasthan, North India, 18th century, 

Opaque pigments on paper, on a rainy day, a woman sitting on a marble dais, a stringed instrument to her side, in front of a palace receiving a lotus and a garland from a female visitor, a large tree inhabited by monkeys, cranes and birds in the background, bordered in grey ruled in dark blue, wider red margins, foliated to reverse above 6ll. of red and black devanagari script,  mounted, 

28.7 x 21cm.

Provenance: Property from the private collection of John Acton (1932-2017) acquired in India in the 1960s

Our painting describes a musical mode to be played on a serious note, when the rain brought by the monsoon winds is dearly expected, missed or falls. It suggests a tone of yearning and renunciation too. Referring to translations published in Ebeling K. Ragamala paintings, Basel, Paris New Delhi 1973, Malar, Malhar or Mallar and also Setmallar, ragini of Megha Raga, is a lone morose lady, striken by separation, her splendour with the beauty of the conch shell, sitting in the courtyard of an ermitage while the clouds heavy with rains are gathering (p.136, Text F.). Setmallat sets a similar tone : by reason of separation, Malara is in a mood of renunciation, "the balck clouds have cast their shadows on all quarters, my beloved who is a generous lover has forgotten me !" (p. 145-6, Text J.). She also is described as a lone woman with a vina (p. 148, Text L.).
The present lot may not, at first, show the feellings of the forlorn ragini, with its large palace and abundance with its multitude of lotas and presence of pan, and the lush garden strewn with colourful flowers and fully grown trees inhabited by all sorts of animals. However, despite her unquestionable beauty her position in the periphery of the plentiful palace with little around her safe for the stringed instrument to her side hints at withdrawal, helplessness and sadness. The tone of the scene, and thus mode, is supported by the single visitor with a modest present and the heavy rains falling from the heavy white clouds in a blue-grey sky.

 

Buyer's Premium

The buyer shall pay the hammer price together with a premium thereon of 26% up to £20,000 (31.2% inclusive of VAT), 25% from £20,001 - £500,000 (30% inclusive of VAT), 20% from £500,001 thereafter (24% inclusive of VAT). The premium price is subject to VAT at the standard rate.

VAT
VAT is not charged on the hammer price unless it is stated that there is 'VAT applicable on the hammer price at the end of the description. Buyer's premium is subject to VAT.
(ARR) - ARTIST'S RESALE RIGHT

Qualifying living artists and the descendants of artists deceased within the last 70 years are entitled to receive a re-sale royalty each time their work is bought through an auction house or art market professional.

It applies to lots with hammer value over £1,000 as follows:
0 to £50,000 - 4%
£50,000.01 to £200,000 - 3%
£200,000.01 to £350,000 - 1%
£350,000.01 to £500,000 - 0.5%
Exceeding £500,000 - 0.25%
ARR is capped at £12,500

Please note ARR is calculated in euros. Auctioneers will apply current exchange rates.

Export of goods

Buyers intending to export goods should ascertain whether an export licence is required before bidding. Export licences are issued by Arts Council England and application forms can be obtained from its Export Licensing Unit. Details can be found on the ACE website www.artscouncil.org.uk or by phoning ACE on 020 7973 5188. The need for import licences varies from country to country and you should acquaint yourself with all relevant local requirements and provisions before bidding. The refusal of any such licences shall not permit the cancelling of any sale nor allow any delay in making full payment for the lot.

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