Indian Teakwood Model of the Windows in Sidi Saiyyad’s Mosque at Ahmedabad by Lockwood de Forest and the Ahmedabad Wood Carving Company
During the September 24th auction at Stair Galleries titled Design From 1860 to 1910, over 370 items were put up for sale. However, one item stole the show: an incredibly intricate teakwood carving by Lockwood de Forest, created in collaboration with the Ahmedabad Wood Carving Company. This impressive piece was a massive 6-foot-7½-inch tall, 10-foot-wide arched panel inspired by the famous sixteenth-century stone windows of the Sidi Saiyyed Mosque in the western Indian city of Ahmedabad.
The teakwood carving, which was part of the renowned collection of Ann & Gordon Getty, showcases De Forest’s admiration for Indian art. As an American painter and designer, De Forest gained recognition during the Gilded Age for integrating Indian craftsmanship into American home decor. In 1879, de Forest teamed up with design legends Louis Comfort Tiffany, Samuel Colman, and Candace Wheeler to form the design firm Associated Artists, where he took charge of architectural woodwork. Though the firm only lasted four short years, it left a lasting impression on 19th-century decorating trends. De Forest later partnered with Tiffany again to found an import business, establishing contacts in the western Indian region of Gujarat to ship fashionable Indian furniture and jewelry to the United States. They also set up a design company, through which De Forest created his own work by incorporating Eastern and Western styles into stunning designs. This carving exemplifies that fusion, displaying rich detail and artistry.
Even though the auction house initially anticipated a sale price of $10K to $15K, the item exceeded expectations. The piece’s beauty and historical significance sparked a bidding war, ultimately fetching a staggering $175K (or $224K w/p), more than eleven times the initial high estimate. It was truly an impressive outcome!