Beschreibung:

Captain E.A. McCurdy (19th C.) 13 watercolours with gum arabic on paper Botanical studies of Indian fruits one inscribed 'drawn by Captain McCurdy' 11.5 x 15in., housed in hand painted simulated bamboo frames Estimate £800-1,200 Captain E.A.McCurdy - author of Views of the Neilgherries, Blue Mountains of Coimbetoor, Southern India, 1830 and Three Panoramic Views of Ottacamund, the chief station on the Neilgherries or Blue Mountains of Coimbetore.... c.1830. These gouache come from a local private family who have had them stored in their attic for many years, generally the paper does not appear to be laid down and shows undulation, they all show some degree of creasing along with discolouration of the paper and various dirt and fox marks, all are titled in pencil, and housed in the original rather lovely simulated bamboo painted frames which equally are rather scuffed. These are paper laid down onto a fine canvas like backing many years ago. Individual comments below. Cashew nut - titled both top and bottom, one diagonal cut mark running through the fruit and further diagonal tears showing towards the bottom right Mangoelien - pronounced crease marks running horizontally across the work, flaking to the green paint, notable water stains and dirt / mould marking on the paper Rambae - Looks a little more cropped than the others, approx. 1cm shorter at the top and bottom than most of the other images Young pineapple - no glass, section missing from top right and bottom left corners, and a repaired hole just above 9 o'clock Betel nut - diagonal crease marks, more discoloured paper than the others and pronounced water stain running across the bottom Variegated pineapple - horizontal crease marks Tea plant - slightly more wrinkled paper than the others Clove - no further comment Jack Fruit - inscribed drawn by Captn McCurdy lower right and numbered 15, one notable crease top left and flaking to the green paint in the leaves, otherwise as per the main description Mango - glass broken, flaking in the green paint, water stains at the bottom Water melon - flaking where it appears to have been folded vertically down the middle at some point. Rambootan - diagonal and horizontal crease marks, slight flaking in the green paint Nutmeg - slightly heavier spotting than some of the others, slight flaking in the green