Classical Oriental Style
Gouache & gold acrylic on brown paper
18cm x 13cm
An Afghan mullah, in full white turban and colourful long-sleeved silk chapan.
The term for “an elder” in Pashto is “spin zheray”, meaning “whitebeard”. This painting makes the reason for that obvious!
Gouache, acrylic and gold leaf on board
59.4cm x 42 cm (A2)
A Bengal tiger prowls through a background of gold leaf, accompanied by kingfishers and a border of a Snaffles-inspired remarque depicting various animals of the jungle...How many can you identify?
The Persian calligraphy, in silver ink, reads:
“Love is a beautiful forest, where the brave tiger is slain by the pretty deer”
This work draws inspiration from the “tazheeb” guilding traditions of Indo-Persian miniatures, whilst evoking the nostalgia of Kipling’s “The Jungle Book”, to create a piece distinctively Shah Wali. The painting’s dimensions ensure an eye-catching impact in any room.
Gouache, ink & gold acrylic on board.
29.7cm x 21cm (A4)
An Afghan Hound, known as a "taazi" in Afghanistan, surrounded by calligraphy of a Persian poem from the "Mantiq at-Tair" (Parliament of the Birds), which reads:
'King Khosrow was going hunting in the desert,
"Oh kennel master, bring me a Taazi!" said he.
Khosrow had a trained dog, draped in elegant black attire,
A gem-studded collar was the pride around its neck,
Gold and bronze anklets adorned its legs,
A silken lead around its neck.'
The taazi is less hairy than its showdog cousin more familiar in the West. Used for hunting, a well-trained taazi will pin a rabbit or deer without killing it; enabling its master to dispatch the prey in the Halal manner.
The rich gold acrylic in this painting provides a striking background for the intricately detailed gouache hound, heavily inspired by traditional Indo-Persian miniature paintings.
Paintings inspired by Indo-Persian miniatures and Burmo-Siamese temple art. Further examples can be found in the Gallery & Sales section of this website or by clicking Shop All, below.