Zacke Auction, Vienna, Austria
16th Apr, 2026 11:00
TWO-DAY AUCTION: Fine Asian Art, Buddhism and Hinduism
Lot 237
A PAIR OF ‘SIR ELIJAH IMPEY’ ASTROLOGICAL ILLUSTRATIONS DEPICTING KETU AND RADHU, BENGAL, C. 1780
Lot details: Northern India. Gouache and gold on paper, mounted on European paper. The first with Ketu, the descending node, depicted as a headless torso drawn in a chariot by a pair of rhinoceroses. The second with Radhu, the bringer of eclipses, son of Viprachitti and Sinhika, depicted as a severed head riding in a chariot drawn by two rhinoceroses. Each within red borders framed by ink rules.
Provenance:
-Collection of Sir Elijah Impey, Bengal, India.
-Phillip’s London, May 21, 1810, lot 346 (part-lot)
-A private collection in London, United Kingdom, acquired from the above and thence by descent.
-Sotheby’s New York, 20-21 September 1985, lot 389 (one sheet of the present lot)
-A private collection in the United States, acquired from the above.
-Sotheby’s New York, 23 March 1995, lot 312 (part-lot)
-A private collection on the East Coast of the United States, acquired from the above and thence by descent.
