It is surprising just how little information has been released about this brooch.
Most of the large carved emeralds which have come onto the market in recent years are said to be Mughal carvings, many having been incorporated into modern jewels by leading jewellers such as Cartier.
But I suspect that the Ladies of India emerald was a newly done carving circa 1911. The carving appears to depict a Tudor rose. Similar "rose" carvings are evident on other emeralds,
but most of the known Mughal carvings also include other floral motifs as well (as seen in the photo above)
If the carving has a history I am surprised that the Royal Collection curators have not made reference to that in various items which have been published.
Has anyone ever read which jewellery house might have set the emerald? Or do we rely on the old "probably Garrard" attribution?
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