Indian Lucknow Carved Ivory Figure of a ‘Sapera’ or snake charmer (1800 to 1900 India)

Ivory, Horn, Sandlewood

The flute, which is used to mesmerise the snakes, is called a ‘pungi’ and is a type of folk clarinet that originated in the Middle East. It is made from a dried bottle gourd or coconut and has two reeds or bamboo tubes, one for the melody and one for the drone, which are played by a practised method of circular breathing so that the haunting and hypnotising melodies are played to the snakes without a pause.

An Indian Lucknow Carved Ivory Figure of a ‘Sapera’ or snake charmer on a raised platform base. Ivory horn and sandalwood
Second half of 19th Century

Size: 13cm high, 7.5cm wide, 15cm deep – 5 ins high, 3 ins wide, 6 ins deep
See: Finch & Co catalogue no.17, item no.24, for another example