Important Notice

COLLECTION OF GEORGE P BICKFORD

George P Bickford, an attorney from Cleveland, was well-known for his extensive collection of Indian art, which included Mughal and Rajput court paintings, stone and bronze sculptures, and modern paintings from the Bengal school. Bickford graduated from Harvard in 1922 and accepted a post as a teacher in Wuchang, China. The following year he returned from China by way of India, where he travelled... COLLECTION OF GEORGE P BICKFORD

George P Bickford, an attorney from Cleveland, was well-known for his extensive collection of Indian art, which included Mughal and Rajput court paintings, stone and bronze sculptures, and modern paintings from the Bengal school. Bickford graduated from Harvard in 1922 and accepted a post as a teacher in Wuchang, China. The following year he returned from China by way of India, where he travelled to Calcutta, Benaras, Delhi and Jaipur, before sailing to Bombay. It was during his travels across India that his interest in Indian art was kindled. This interest solidified when he was made Captain in the Judge Advocate General's Department during World War II, and was posted in New Delhi in 1944. During his military service in India, he met officers from the Archaeological Survey of India, visited local museums, galleries and dealers and immersed himself in the study of Indian art.

After completing his military service, Bickford was introduced to Nasli Heeramaneck, and purchased his first Indian court paintings in 1946. Bickford worked closely with the Cleveland Museum of Art, which formally established its Indian art department in 1952. Five years later, he became a Trustee of the museum and in 1959, a member of the Accessions Committee. Over the years, Bickford made several gifts to the museum. In 1975, the Cleveland Museum of Art organised an exhibition of the art of India and Southeast Asia, drawing from Bickford's extensive personal collection. Bickford's collection was also exhibited at the Phoenix Art Museum, Arizona, the Fogg Art Museum at Harvard, Massachusetts, and the University Art Museum at Berkeley, California.

The present lot was once part of Bickford's personal collection.

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