Marquetry Lady with Flute (Meera) from India, brought into South Africa in 1980.
23 May 2025
Description

My parents acquired this marquetry from a good friend, who in 1980 travelled to India to establish sugar cane trade and was gifted this artwork through his business dealings.

Dimensions

69cm x 85cm

Acquired from
Inherited
For sale
Yes
Answered within about 11 hours
By David U.
May 23, 12:43 UTC
Fair Market Value
$400 - $900 USD
Insurance Value $0 USD
What does this mean?

Hello, this item is a handcrafted Indian marquetry panel titled Lady with Flute (Meera), dating to circa 1980. The piece was made using a traditional wood inlay technique, where various natural wood veneers of differing grains and tones are carefully cut and assembled to form an image. It portrays Meera Bai, the 16th-century Hindu mystic poet and devotee of Krishna, in a devotional pose with a flute, rendered with remarkable warmth and detail. This particular panel measures 69 x 85 cm and was presented during a formal reception in Pune in July 1980, with provenance documentation attesting to its gifting and intended museum-quality stature.

While this marquetry panel is not from a widely recognized artist or workshop, its craftsmanship and documented provenance elevate its cultural and collectible value. Indian marquetry art of this scale and quality, particularly with historical narrative themes and mid-20th-century export context, can command prices in the range of $400 to $900 USD on the secondary market. The valuation could increase in institutional settings or with regional collectors of Indian decorative art. Its condition, documentation, and size are strong contributors to its appeal.

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