Afghanistan
Timurid Dynasty, 14th century
Lapis lazuli
Height 3 3/4 in (9.5 cm)
Provenance: Christie's, New York, 1970s; Art Primitivo, New York, March 21, 2005, Lot 336; H. Schouten, Florida
This small sculpture depicts an enthroned couple seated together in a compact architectural form, a subject associated with courtly imagery in the Timurid cultural sphere of 14th century Afghanistan. The figures are rendered frontally with attention to posture, head coverings, jewelry, and seated arrangement, conveying a sense of formal courtly presence despite the modest scale of the piece. The lapis lazuli body preserves traces of blue and white mineral variation across the surface, giving the sculpture its characteristic coloration.
The carving preserves the figures' frontal posture and formal arrangement with confident economy, consistent with small devotional or courtly sculpture in the Timurid tradition. The compact architectural setting in which the couple is placed suggests a throne or niche form standard in the period's sculptural vocabulary. Its documented passage through Christie's New York in the 1970s and Art Primitivo in 2005 establishes a clear chain of ownership within the established market for Central Asian antiquities.
We ship free anywhere in the world, fully insured, packed by hand.
Afghanistan
Timurid Dynasty, 14th century
Lapis lazuli
Height 3 3/4 in (9.5 cm)
Provenance: Christie's, New York, 1970s; Art Primitivo, New York, March 21, 2005, Lot 336; H. Schouten, Florida
This small sculpture depicts an enthroned couple seated together in a compact architectural form, a subject associated with courtly imagery in the Timurid cultural sphere of 14th century Afghanistan. The figures are rendered frontally with attention to posture, head coverings, jewelry, and seated arrangement, conveying a sense of formal courtly presence despite the modest scale of the piece. The lapis lazuli body preserves traces of blue and white mineral variation across the surface, giving the sculpture its characteristic coloration.
The carving preserves the figures' frontal posture and formal arrangement with confident economy, consistent with small devotional or courtly sculpture in the Timurid tradition. The compact architectural setting in which the couple is placed suggests a throne or niche form standard in the period's sculptural vocabulary. Its documented passage through Christie's New York in the 1970s and Art Primitivo in 2005 establishes a clear chain of ownership within the established market for Central Asian antiquities.
We ship free anywhere in the world, fully insured, packed by hand.
