Chape of a scabbard

Object Details

• School/Tradition

  Mughal school

• Description

  Metal tip (or chape) of a sword or dagger scabbard; 5/8" x 1 1/2" opening at top with scalloped edge coming to a rounded, closed point at the bottom; inlaid gold design of flowers on one side, feathers and flowers on the other; one side (blade edge) is narrower than the other.

• Label

  Golden poppies swaying on slender stems adorn this iron chape, which once tipped a sword's protective cover. The design's balance of symmetry and acutely observed nature is characteristic of the finest Mughal ornament. The artist incised the patterns on the iron, inlaid them with gold foil, and added details using chasing and engraving.

• Provenance

  ca. 1966

  J. J. Klejman Gallery, New York, NY, method of acquisition unknown [1]

  ?-?

  Unidentified individual, America, method of acquisition unknown [2]

  ?-1994

  Terence McInerney Fine Arts Ltd., New York, NY, method of acquisition unknown [3]

  From 1994

  Freer Gallery of Art, purchased from Terence McInerney Fine Arts Ltd. [4]

  Notes:

  [1] See invoice from Terence McInerney, Terence McInerney Fine Arts, Ltd., to the Freer Gallery of Art, dated February 14, 1993, copy in object file. The invoice lists this object’s provenance as “Ex collection: Klejman Gallery, ca. 1966 / American private collection”.

  J. J. Klejman (John J. Klejman) (1906-1995) was a Polish-Jewish dealer active in pre-World War II Warsaw, Poland. At the end of the World War II, Klejman left Poland and in 1950 he established himself in New York, NY where he owned a gallery specializing in Roman, Greek, and Byzantine art as well as Asian art and African art, located at Madison Avenue and 76th Street. During his career he worked with major US museums, including the Metropolitan Museum of Art and the Cleveland Museum of Art, as well as with European collectors. Around 1974 or 1975 Klejman retired and sold objects from his inventory at public auctions, primarily through Sotheby’s New York office.

  [2] See note 1.

  [3] See note 1.

  [4] See Freer Gallery of Art “Acquisition Consideration Form,” approved on March 17, 1994, copy in object file.

  Research updated March 15, 2023

• Collection

  Freer Gallery of Art Collection

• Exhibition History

  Body Image (October 14, 2017 - ongoing)

  East of Eden: Gardens in Asian Art (February 24 to May 13, 2007)

  Gold: The Asian Touch (September 10, 2005 to February 20, 2006)

  South and South East Asian Art (May 9, 1993 to February 7, 2000)

• Previous custodian or owner

  J.J. Klejman Gallery (1950-1974/5)

  Terence McInerney Fine Arts, Ltd. (active 1990-2013)

• Origin

  India

• Credit Line

  Purchase — funds provided by Rajinder K. Keith and Narinder K. Keith in honor of Mahinder Singh Keith

• Type

  Weapon and Armament

• On View

  Freer Gallery 01: Body Image: Arts of the Indian Subcontinent

• Restrictions and Rights

  Usage Conditions Apply

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Keep Exploring

• Related Resources

  collections.si.edu

• Date

  1600s, 1690s

• Name

  McInerney, Terence, J.J. Klejman Gallery

• Place

  India

• Topic

  South Asian and Himalayan Art, Gold, Art, Inlay (process), Mughal dynasty (1526 - 1858), Iron, Flowers, Chasing, Engraving (incising), Metal-work

• Culture

  Himalayan peoples, South Asians

• Object Type

  Weapons, Armor (protective wear)

• On View

  Yes