Ivory powder horn

Ivory powder horn

India, 17th-18th century

Length: 5 1/8 inches, 14 cm

A finely-carved portable ivory gunpowder primer, depicting a jumping tiger. The mouth is wide-open, revealing large teeth and a tongue. Emerging from the open mouth is a stopper, which is decorated as a single flower head with two peacocks back to back, that also functions as an easy place to hold the stopper. Above the tiger’s lips is a stylised moustache, turning inwards in the centre towards the nose, which has distinct nostrils. The flat nose is turned upwards. The eyes, of more recent date than the ivory, are inlaid with gold and foil-backed rubies. The top of the head is inset with a single inlaid gold and foil-backed emerald, behind which distinctly close-cropped curly hair is visible. Attached to the top of the lion’s head, and drilled through, is a silver handle onto which two silver chains are attached, one between the horn and the stopper to prevent it getting lost, another to loop it around the user’s belt. The ivory has a warm, yellowish colouring.

[No longer available]

 

Hunting was an important part of Mughal life. According to the chronicler Abu’l Kazl, it was the emperor Akbar who greatly encouraged the manufacture of firearms. [1] Powder horns and flasks, essential for firing pistols and matchlocks, were used extensively. These were often made of ivory, horn or mother-of-pearl, and produced in various regions of India, including the Punjab, Rajasthan and the Deccan. Examples of ivory powder horns are in the Musée Guimet in Paris [2] and the David collection in Copenhagen. [3]

  1. Okada, A: L’Inde des Princes, La donation Jean et Krishnâ Riboud, Paris 2000, page 61
  2. Okada, A, op cit. page 64 – 65
  3. Foldsach, K. von; Art from the World of Islam in the David Collection, Copenhagen 2001, no. 415, page 258