I WOULD be most grateful if I could use your columns to obtain some information about a reredos which was made in India for an unidentified Catholic church in Suffolk.
The reredos was made in about 1878 at Bulandshahr by Indian craftsmen using a technique called Mainpuri, that is the inlaying of wood with delicate brass wire. Usually, floral patterns of considerable intricacy were formed.
A reference to This commission has just been brought to my notice. I am anxious to trace the church and reredos as soon as possible so that the work can be mentioned in a lecture I have been asked to give at the Royal Society of Arts in May on the subject of Indian crafts and western design.
Any help in tracing, this unique commission would be gratefully acknowledged.
Raymond Head The Firs 10 Worcester Road Chipping Norton Oxfordshire