More on the Blue Vase

It came into the family not long after may parents married in 1949. They had travelled from the UK to Calcutta and it was given to them as a wedding present. It stood on the balcony of our house in Calcutta until 1975 when it was shipped home to the UK. A screw top biscuit tin fitted in the neck of the vase and we kept the dog biscuits in the tin. The vase has a large crack.

The family often speculated on the history of the vase and how old it might be? According to David Batty from the Antiques Roadshow he believed it was made in China around 1890 and it would be worth more had it not be cracked.

Some of the images on the vase are quite wonderful, it measures some three feet in height so it is very large.

Hope you like it.

G D Paulraj - Night in Agra - Print

This is a print I acquired a few years ago of another G D Paul Raj painting called "Night in Agra" it might have been given away with an Indian newspaper, anyone know? The dark street looks very moody and the light from the shops looks inviting.

I have just come across the site of a modern Indian Artist called Milind Mulick he is painting some beautiful pictures take a look at his website and blog. www.milindmulick.com


I have been told that this painting was printed in an annual magazine The Times Of India in 1950 and it also was exhibited at the Bombay Art Society annual exhibition.

BBC Antiques Roadshow - Bowes Museum 2009

In April this year I heard that the BBC were going to record an episode of the Antiques Road Show near my home. I emailed them saying I had a large blue vase that they might be interested in filming and in due course they visited me and said they would like to film the vase.

In August I carefully wrapped the vase in bubble wrap and took it to the venue and my sister and I were filmed. However there was no guarantee that we would make the show. Bad news today a letter has arrived from the BBC advising me that the show will be on UK television on Sunday 15 October 2009 but we and the vase did not make the show. Shame but it was still a fun day. I have attached a photo of the vase being filmed. More on the vase will follow.  

G D Paulral - Bringing Home the Newborn

The last few years has seen me start collecting a number of water colours by the Indian artist G D Paulraj. I was introduced to his work by my mother who met the artist while she lived in Madras during the early 1950's.

She acquired several of his works and they were displayed in the family home in Madras until the family moved to Calcutta. My father decided it was too difficult to pack all the paintings and transport them many hundreds of miles north to our new home and decided to only take one.

It is still in the family and was inherited by my sister on the death of our mother and a photograph of this painting can been seen above (not the best of photos as it is behind ordinary glass and has caught the camera flash). It was always called "Bringing home the newborn" and is still one of my favourites. I do not think my mother ever forgave my father for this error of judgement is selling the other Paul Raj paintings when we moved house.

He can really capture the light coming through the trees onto the dusty road. I would be happy to hear from anyone who might have information on the artist or own a painting and is prepared to share photos of his works.