AN INDIAN TEAK MODEL OF THE QUTB MINAR

The Qutb Minar was built in 1193-1230 in Delhi for Qutb-ud-din-Aibak, the first Sultan of the Delhi Sultanate, to mark the victory of Islam over the infidel. According to the carvings that decorate the tower, it was erected 'to cast the shadow of God over both east and west'. When sold from the collection of the renowned arbiter of taste Christopher Gibbs, this model of the red sandstone tower stood as it did prior to the rebuilding of the upper stories by Firoz Shah, 1288-93 (see in situ illustration). Echoing this historical addition, the late owner of this model commissioned the upper stories to complete the model to reflect the tower as it was when painted by Mildred Archer. Her painting showed the cupola, as it is here, which was added by Col. Robert Smith in 1828 but was subsequently destroyed during earthquake in 1848 (see Company Painting - India Painting of the British Period,, V & A India Art Series, 1992, p. 147).