Rosewater sprinkler

Mughal School Encased in a finely worked open-work screen (jali). Peahen and peacock applied sculpture. ?-? Unknown English individual, method of acquisition unknown [1] Unknown English individual’s widow, probably by inheritance [2] ?-at least by October 1989 Ryder Street Fine Art, London, England, acquired from the Unknown English individual’s widow [3] At least by October 1989-1990 John Lawrence Fine Arts (John Robert Alderman), London, England, purchased from Ryder Street Fine Art [4] From 1990 Freer Gallery of Art, purchased from John Lawrence Fine Arts [5] Notes: [1] In a brief letter to John R. Alderman at John Lawrence Fine Arts, M. Hudson, a Secretary at Ryder Street Fine Art wrote, “The Moghul silver rose water sprinkler which you acquired from us was acquired several years ago from the widow of an elderly English collector. We understand that it had been in his possession for many years.” See letter from M. Hudson, Secretary at Ryder Street Fine Art, to John R. Alderman, John Lawrence Fine Arts, dated November 5, 1989, copy in object file. The letter is typed on Ryder Street Fine Art letterhead which includes two addresses, “10 Ryder Street, London, SW1Y 6PY, 01-839 7551” and “Registered at 5 St. James’s Chambers, London SW1Y 6QA Vat No. 461 5617 48” in the footer. When John Lawrence Fine Arts acquired the object from Ryder Street Fine Art is unknown. However, it can be determined that the object was in the custody of John Lawrence Fine Arts at least by October 1989 since John R. Alderman had contacted Glenn Lowry, Curator at the Freer Gallery of Art, about possibly acquiring the object by that date. See memo from Glenn Lowry to Bruce Young, titled “Possible Acquisition,” dated October 26, 1989, copy in object file. Alderman’s name varies in the correspondences between him and the Freer Gallery of Art, these variations include John R. Alderman, Robert Alderman, and Bob Alderman. [2] See letter in note 1. [3] See letter in note 1. Ryder Street Fine Art was a dealer in London, England in the late 1980s. [4] See letter and memo in note 1. John Lawrence Fine Arts was a dealer in London, England specialized in dealing in Indian and Islamic art. The company was founded by Mark Zebrowski (1945-1999) and John Robert Alderman, who were American dealers and collectors. John Lawrence Fine Arts was active in the mid-1980s and 1990s and successfully placed works in the collection of the British Museum; Los Angeles County Museum of Art; The Metropolitan Museum of Art; Museum of Fine Arts, Boston; San Diego Museum of Art. [5] See invoice from John Lawrence Fine Arts, Inc. to the Freer Gallery of Art, dated November 6, 1989, copy in object file. See also “Smithsonian Institution Check Requisition” form, dated April 3, 1990, purchase order 4133, copy in object file. Research updated February 24, 2023 Freer Gallery of Art Collection Body Image (October 14, 2017 - ongoing) East of Eden: Gardens in Asian Art (February 24 to May 13, 2007) Arts of the Indian Subcontinent and the Himalayas (October 16, 2004 to January 3, 2016) South and South East Asian Art (May 9, 1993 to February 7, 2000) Ryder Street Fine Art John Lawrence Fine Arts, Inc.