Jali

Object Details

School/Tradition

Mughal school

Label

Pierced-stone window screens called jalis are integral componets of Mughal architecture. Both functional and ornamental, they maintain privacy, protect against the sun, and allow for the circulation of air. Their highly intricate designs, including both floral and geometric motifs, become even more apparent by the ever-changing shadows they cast as light passes through them. The dense and tightly arranged floral motifs of this jali are characteristic of the finest architectural decoration of Shah-Jahan's reign. Similar white marble screens also adorn the Taj Mahal. This pierced stone screen probably formed part of a railing.

Provenance

Possibly at least 1919-possibly before 1967

Henry Latchford (1893-1967), method of acquisition unknown, possibly in India or possibly in London, England [1]

Possibly after 1967-?

Douglas Latchford (1931-2020), possibly by descent from Henry Latchford [2]

?-at least 1985

Simon Ray, purchased from Douglas Latchford in London, England [3]

At least 1985-1990

John Lawrence Fine Arts, Inc., London, England, probably purchased from Simon Ray probably in London, England [4]

From 1990

National Museum of Asian Art, Smithsonian Institution, purchased from John Lawrence Fine Arts, Inc. [5]

Notes:

[1] See letter from Douglas Latchford, London, to Simon Ray, Spink & Son, Ltd., London, dated April 2, 1990, copy in object file. Latchford’s entire letter states, “Dear Simon, [/] I refer to the jali screen which you purchased from me. My father, Henry Latchford, lived in India from 1919 and bought a number of Indian items both there and in London, of which this was one. [/] Your sincerely, [/] D. Latchford [signed] [/] D. A. Latchford.” It remains unclear what Henry Latchford collected, as an inventory of his collection has yet to be identified.

Henry Latchford (1893-1967) was a banker and a journalist in England and India. Born and raised in London, England on March 9, 1893, Latchford later moved to India. He married Ellen Sara Colhoun (b.1893), the eldest daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Colhoun of Bombay (now Mumbai), at the St. Thomas’ Cathedral in Bombay, India on January 21, 1922. Between 1934 and 1961, Latchford was the horse “Racing Correspondent” for “The Times of India,” and he wrote under the pseudonym “Hotspur.” Latchford was a well-known figure in the racing circle of Bombay and Poona and retired from his position at the paper in 1961 because of poor health. On February 3, 1967, he died in England. Henry Latchford was the father of Douglas Arthur Joseph Latchford (1931-2020), who is known to have illegally acquired and sold looted Cambodian and Thai antiquities, especially Khmer art.

[2] See note 1.

Douglas Arthur Joseph Latchford (1931-2020) was an art dealer, collector, and a known smuggler of Cambodian art, notably Khmer art. Latchford was born in Mumbai, India, and educated at Brighton College in England before returning to India shortly before India’s Independence in 1947. Latchford initially worked in the pharmaceutical industry in Mumbai. He moved to Bangkok, Thailand in 1956, and in 1963 established a drug distribution company. Latchford became a Thai citizen in 1968 and he resided there until his death in 2020. In 2019, Latchford was indicted by the Southern District of New York charged with a variety of offences relating to buying and selling looted Cambodian antiquities, including smuggling, falsifying documents, and wire fraud.

[3] See note 1.

Simon Ray is a dealer in London, England specializing in Indian and Islamic art, including ceramics, stonework, sculpture, miniatures, metalwork, jewelry, and textiles. He began his career in the art world in 1985 when he joined Spink & Son, Ltd. (established 1666) in their Islamic department. He established an eponymous gallery in London in 2001.

[4] See letter from the Curator of Near Eastern Art to Mark Zebrowski, dated July 16, 1985, copy in object file. The Curator states, “I have discussed the Shah Jahani screen with several people here and before we can consider it further, its provenance needs to be clarified. In order for us to seriously consider the screen, we must be able to document that it was legally exported from India prior to 1973. The secretary of the Smithsonian is quite strict about enforcing this, and I wonder if there is any information that you can provide us with in this regard. If not, I am afraid, we must decline your generous offer.”

See also the Arthur M. Sackler Gallery “Incoming Receipt,” dated August 20, 1990, copy in object file. The object was transferred from John Lawrence Fine Arts, Inc. to the Arthur M. Sackler Gallery for acquisition consideration on August 20, 1990. Object is described as, “India[,] White marble jali, 17th C.[,] 22 x 16 3/4”.”

See also invoice from John Lawrence Fine Arts, Inc., issued by John R. Alderman, dated August 8, 1990, copy in object file. Object is described as “A White Marble Jali, the Center Pierced in a Foliate Design. Mughal, India, 17th century, 22 x 16 ¾ in.”

John Lawrence Fine Arts, Inc., was a dealer in London, England that specialized in the sale of Indian and Islamic art. The company was jointly 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. Alderman was also known as John R. Alderman, Robert Alderman, and Bob Alderman.

[5] See also Arthur M. Sackler Gallery, “Acquisition Consideration Form,” approved on October 8, 1990, copy in object file.

Research updated June 6, 2024

Collection

National Museum of Asian Art Collection

Exhibition History

East of Eden: Gardens in Asian Art (February 24 to May 13, 2007)

Gyroscope (July 19, 2004 to July 24, 2005)

The Jewel and the Rose: Art of Shah Jahan (May 4, 1997 to January 25, 1998)

Arts of Mughal India (1992) (May 24 to December 6, 1992)

Previous custodian or owner

Henry Latchford (1894-1967)

Douglas Latchford (1931-2020)

Simon Ray

John Lawrence Fine Arts, Inc. (active mid-1980s-1990s)

Credit Line

Purchase — Smithsonian Unrestricted Trust Funds

17th century

Period

Mughal dynasty

Accession Number

S1990.21

Restrictions & Rights

Usage conditions apply

Type

Architectural Element

Medium

Marble

Dimensions

H x W x D: 42.4 x 55.3 x 3.5 cm (16 11/16 x 21 3/4 x 1 3/8 in)

Origin

India

Related Online Resources

Google Cultural Institute

See more items in

Freer Gallery of Art and Arthur M. Sackler Gallery Collection

Freer Gallery of Art and Arthur M. Sackler Gallery

Topic

stone

Mughal dynasty (1526 - 1858)

India

South Asian and Himalayan Art

Record ID

fsg_S1990.21

Metadata Usage (text)

Usage conditions apply

GUID (Link to Original Record)

http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/ye3a00221b7-d959-4a79-9bd8-f3720e2ae49a