string(21) "edanmdm:fsg_S1986.410" A Comb Duck - National Museum of Asian Art
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A Comb Duck

Detail of a pattern
Image 1 of 1
IIIF

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At A Glance

  • Period

    late 18th century

  • Geography

    India

  • Material

    Opaque watercolor on paper mounted on paperboard

  • Dimension

    H x W (overall): 11.4 x 17.2 cm (4 1/2 x 6 3/4 in)

  • Accession Number

    S1986.410

  • EDAN ID

    edanmdm:fsg_S1986.410

Object Details

  • Description

    A comb duck.
    Border: The painting is set in gold and black rulings in a border with purple flowers on a blue ground, mounted on paperboard.

  • Inscriptions

    Mounting board, back: 148, written in pencil
    Mounting board, back: Persian numeral 9 written in black ink
    Leather frame backing, interior: pencil Vever 302 A-C, written in pencil
    Leather frame backing, interior: B, written in pencil
    Leather frame backing, interior: dessous, written in pencil
    Leather frame backing, interior: X, crossed out, written in pencil
    Leather frame backing, interior: dessus crossed out, written in pencil
    Leather frame backing, interior: sticker Henri Vever printed in dark blue, no. 29 Oustad Mansour, written in pencil
    Leather frame backing, interior: Paris Expositions Douanes (customs sticker)
    Leather frame backing, interior: Gemeente Museum Exhibition in the Hague (Le Haye) in 1927 sticker
    Leather frame backing, exterior: framed image of five wasps flying, gold emboss
    Leather frame backing, exterior: Appay 24 Rue de la Paix Paris, gold emboss
    Leather frame backing, exterior: sticker with scalloped edges, 156, crossed out, and 148, written in black ink
    Leather frame backing, exterior: sticker with scalloped edges, 156, crossed out, and 148, written in black ink

  • Provenance

    ?-1912
    Georges Demotte (1877-1923), method of acquisition unknown [1]
    1912-1942
    Henri Vever (1854-1942), purchased from Georges Demotte [2]
    1942-1947
    Jeanne Louise Monthiers (1861-1947), bequest of Henri Vever [3]
    1947-1986
    Francois Mautin (1907-2003), bequest of Jeanne Louise Monthiers and Henri Vever [4]
    From 1986
    Arthur M. Sackler Gallery purchased from Francois Mautin [5]
    Notes:
    [1] This work is likely one of three paintings of birds that Henri Vever purchased from Georges Demotte in September 1912. See Henri Vever Account Ledger, September 1912, FSA A1988.042.2, from Henri Vever Papers. Freer Gallery of Art and Arthur M. Sackler Gallery Archives. Vever notes he purchased the work at 23 rue de Provence and describes the group of paintings as "3 oiseaux indo-persans par Mançour." Georges Demotte was a collector and dealer of Islamic and medieval European art. He had galleries in Paris and New York City.
    [2] See note 1. An accomplished French jeweler and collector, Henri Vever (1854-1942) amassed a large and impressive collection of works of art during his lifetime. His holdings in Japanese prints and Islamic arts of the books, especially from Iran and India, were among the most important assembled in the early twentieth century. This object was in Vever's collection at the time of his death in 1942.
    [3] Upon Henri Vever's death on September 25, 1942, his wife, Jeanne Louise Monthiers inherited the object. See exhibits F and G of Agreement of Purchase and Sale of the Henri Vever Collection, January 9, 1986, copy in object file.
    [4] Upon the death of Jeanne Louise Monthiers, as stipulated in the will of Henri Vever, the family's assets were divided evenly between his two grandchildren. His only grandson, Francois Mautin inherited the collection known as "The Henri Vever Collection of Oriental Art and Manuscripts Including Persian and Indian Art and Manuscripts." This object is part of that collection. See exhibits F and G as cited in note 3.
    [5] The Arthur M. Sackler Gallery purchased the entirety of the collection from Francois Mautin on January 9, 1986. See purchase agreement, copy in object file.
    Research updated on March 27, 2023.

  • Collection

    Arthur M. Sackler Collection

  • Previous custodian or owner

    Francois Mautin (1907-2003)
    Jeanne Louise Monthiers (1861-1947)
    Henri Vever (1854-1942)
    Georges Demotte (1877-1923)

  • Origin

    India

  • Credit Line

    Purchase — Smithsonian Unrestricted Trust Funds, Smithsonian Collections Acquisition Program, and Dr. Arthur M. Sackler

  • Type

    Painting

  • Restrictions and Rights

    Usage Conditions Apply

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