77. Mughal Fly Whisk

Michelangelo said he saw a statue in every block of marble; his job was to hew away the “rough walls” that imprisoned the perfect figure within. In the same way, the artisan who created this extraordinary ivory fly whisk in 18th-century India did so using a single elephant tusk. The tiny details of the delicately carved handle are stunning up close, but the kicker is that the long bristles themselves are thinly shaved ivory. Fly whisks had ancient associations of power and divinity in India, and were used not for flies, but for brushing away troublesome thoughts and earthly worries.

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This post is part of MFAH 100, a series featuring works from the collection of the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, in honor of its 100th birthday. 100 words on 100 works in 100 days.

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