Snake Charmer or Sapera   Lucknow 19th century Ivory & ebony h. 10.2 cm, w. 14.5 cm, d. 11.5 cm.   Height 8 cm Length of base 14 cm   Another view of the Snake charmer   A carved ivory and ebony group depicting a bearded snake charmer or sapera and his assistant surrounded by the paraphernalia of their trade. The snake charmer is seated on a rectangular terrace carrying a staff in his left hand and a rattle in his right hand. He can be seen looking through the ebony pupils of his eye staring at the confrontation between snake and mongoose. His full beard, necklace, earrings and massive turban beautifully depicted whilst his young assistant facing his master, carrying a staff, tries to control the situation between the ebony cobra and the mongoose. A small child can be seen next to the snake charmer with his head resting on the monkey’s head. Baskets, hookah, bottles, and a vessel for making opium paste are amongst the odds and ends of everyday life of a snake charmer. "The concept is clear: to depict a snake charmer, an everyday character of Indian life accurately with a minimum of artistic license." A similar group is in the State Museum in Patna.   For other examples of Snake charmers see Falk & Lynch, Images of India, lot 51 and Simon Ray Catalogue, March 2003 , lot 37.