Raja Pratap Singh of Sawar smoking a hookah

Object Details

• Artist

  Attributed to Wajid (active late 17th century)

• Description

  The raja wears an orange jama and orange and white striped turban. He sits on a green cover against a black background. An attendant dressed in yellow holds a peacock fan. The hookah bowl is blue and white.

• Label

  Seated on an emerald cushioned low stool (chauki), Maharaja Pratap Singh (r.1668-1707) of the small court of Sawar (Ajmer district, Central Rajasthan) is smoking from a blue-and-white ceramic hookah. The raja wears an orange jama and orange and white striped turban. An attendant waves a peacock-feather fly-whisk (morchhal). Pratap Singh built a fort at Sawar and established a mint, which indicated Mughal approval.

• Provenance

  1979

  Sale, London, Sotheby’s, “Important Oriental Miniatures, Manuscripts and Qajar Lacquer,” October 8-9, 1979, lot no. 128: “A Portrait of Raja Pratap Singh of Sawar”

  From 1979 to 2001

  Ralph Benkaim, Beverly Hills, California, purchased at auction, Sotheby’s, London, “Important Oriental Miniatures, Manuscripts and Qajar Lacquer,” Oct. 8-9, 1979, lot 128: “A Portrait of Raja Pratap Singh of Sawar”

  From 2001 to 2008

  Catherine Glynn Benkaim, Beverly Hills, California, by inheritance from Ralph Benkaim after his death in 2001

  From 2018

  Arthur M. Sackler Gallery, partial gift and purchase from Catherine Glynn Benkaim [1]

  Notes:

  [1] See Deed of Gift, Collections Management Office.

• Collection

  National Museum of Asian Art Collection

• Previous custodian or owner

  Sotheby's (London)

  Ralph and Catherine Benkaim

  Catherine Glynn Benkaim

• Origin

  Sawar, Rajasthan state, India

• Credit Line

  Purchase and partial gift from the Catherine and Ralph Benkaim Collection — funds provided by the Friends of the National Museum of Asian Art

• Type

  Painting

• Restrictions and Rights

  Usage Conditions Apply

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Keep Exploring

• Related Resources

  collections.si.edu

• Date

  1680s, 1670s

• Name

  Sotheby's (London), Benkaim, Ralph and Catherine, Benkaim, Catherine Glynn

• Place

  Sawar, Rajasthan state, India

• Topic

  South Asian and Himalayan Art, Art, Catherine and Ralph Benkaim Collection, Hookah, Portraits, Attendant

• Culture

  Himalayan peoples, South Asians

• Object Type

  Paintings