Lot 776

RARE 18TH C. NAMED MAHARAJA MINIATURE PORTRAIT.

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RARE 18TH C. NAMED MAHARAJA MINIATURE PORTRAIT.

Estimate: $2,500 - $5,000

Starting Bid: $2,000

(0 Bids)

by Jackson's International
August 12, 2026 9:00 AM CDT
Live Auction
2229 Lincoln Street
Cedar Falls, IA, US 50613

RARE 18TH C. NAMED MAHARAJA MINIATURE PORTRAIT.
RARE 18TH C. NAMED MAHARAJA MINIATURE PORTRAIT. Comprising a scarce and finely painted identified miniature portrait depicting Maharaja Nobkissen (1733-1797) wearing a silk turban and ornate, jeweled and plumed sarpech, and with pearl and jeweled necklaces, within a landscape with palm trees. The sitter is identified by the inscribed banner on lower margin as Maha Raraja Nobiksson and, at mid right, initialed OH with the date 86, presumably by the hand of Ozias Humphry (British, 1749-1810), and contained in a black lacquer frame with a gilded and glazed oval bezel and with a suspension loop at top. The painting itself 3.75 x 2.75 inches (9.5 x 7cm). Overall, including frame, 6.5 x 5.5 inches (17 x 14cm). It is believed that the offered lot is the only known lifetime rendering of Maharaja Nobkissen. Lot is further accompanied by a 19th c. intimate miniature Mughal painting of a King & Queen, 6.2 x 4.8cm.

Maharaja Nabakrishna Deb (also known as Raja Nobkissen or Nobkisson, 1733-1797) was a prominent and exceptionally wealthy aristocrat in Calcutta. He was a key confidant of the East India Company and the founder of the Shobhabazar Raj family. He was a loyal ally of the British, having previously served as a Persian teacher (munshi) to Robert Clive and played a key role in the conspiracy against Nawab Siraj-ud-Daulah in 1757. By 1786, he was one of the most influential "Babus" of Calcutta, often acting as a mediator between the British authorities and local elites. He amassed vast fortune and lands and was a prominent zamindar (landholder) of Shobhabazar in North Kolkata. In 1786, he was living in his palace on Raja Nabakrishna Street, which he built to showcase his immense wealth and social standing. He was famous for his grand annual Durga Puja festival, which was a significant social event attended by high-ranking East India Company officials. His rise from a humble position to a powerful "Raja" cemented his legacy as a critical figure in the early colonial history of Bengal.

Ozias Humphry RA (1742-1810) was a noted English painter who specialized in portrait painting, including portrait miniatures. From 1785 to 1787, he travelled to India, producing many miniatures of the Indian aristocracy.

Note: The offered lot compares favorably to miniature portrait of Hyder Beg Khan, the Minister to the Nawab of A Wadh, Asaf-Au-Daula, painted by Humphry in 1786, now in the collection of the Victoria & Albert Museum, London. Accession Number EVANS.142.

Provenance:
The lifetime estate collection of the late Dr. Boris Frid (1930-2017) and Dr. Germaine Frid (1932-2025) Palm Springs, California. See introduction to catalog.

  • Condition: Important Notice: The absence of condition information in the description does not imply that the lot is in perfect condition, a condition report is available by request.

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Bid Increments
From: To: Increments:
$0 $199 $10
$200 $499 $25
$500 $999 $50
$1,000 $1,999 $100
$2,000 $4,999 $200
$5,000 $9,999 $500
$10,000 + $1,000