The First Anglo-Sikh War, fought between the Sikh kingdom of the Punjab and the British East India Company between 1845 and 1846, resulted in partial subjugation of the Sikh kingdom. In the Treaty of Lahore, in 1846, the Sikhs were made to give up Kashmir and had to accept a British resident in Lahore. This effectively gave the East India Company control of the region's government. The Treaty also gave the Koh-i-Noor diamond to Queen Victoria.
This Sculpture has the usual characteristics: tight curls on the head, a slight cranial protuberance, extended earlobes and a srivatsa mark on his chest. Of the 24 Jinas only two can be distinguished from the others visually: Rishabhanatha has long loose hair and Parshvanatha, the twenty-third Jina has a canopy of snakes over his head. In order to distinguish the rest one has therefore to rely on other clues, such as the mount, tree or emblem that each was given. However, as here, artists did not always include these signs, and we are not able to identify which Jina this is. The choie of marble, smooth rounded face, long eyes ending in a prominent chin and the long and pointed nose are all typical of western Indian style.
This Sculpture once belonged to Lady Henrietta Clive, daughter-in-law of Lord Robert Clive. Clive led the British forces at the Battle of Plassey in 1757, one of the climactic events leading to the establishment of British rule in India. Lady Clive lived in Madras in south India between 1798 and 1803, where her husband, the son of Robert Clive, was governor.
Narrative carving showing a horse on wheels being pushed from behind while a spearman bars the way in front of a door framing a woman with her arms thrown up in distress. A piece obviously showing the Trojan horse but most probably adapted to a Buddhist theme. Relief carved. Made of schist.
The king depicted may be Jagat Singh I (ruled 1628-52) or Maharana Jai Singh (ruled 1680-98) of Mewar.
