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Christie's Maharajas and Mughal Magnificence auction Posted by Beth on June 20, 2019, 1:34 pm The much awaited auction of some of the treasures in the Al Thani collection took place at Christie's New York. Some of the items I was following failed to reach the estimated price, others exceeded the estimates. For all the results see https://www.christies.com/salelanding/index.aspx?intsaleid=28184&lid=1&saletitle=&pg=all&action=paging&sid=6d4148a6-3e86-4351-bd52-264836eca2cf#lot_6211965 One of the stars was the Arcot II diamond, once part of the collection of Queen Charlotte and later in the collection of the Dukes of Westminster and the celebrated Westminster tiara. https://www.christies.com/lotfinder/jewelry/the-arcot-ii-6211836-details.aspx?from=salesummery&intobjectid=6211836&sid=6d4148a6-3e86-4351-bd52-264836eca2cf It fetched $3,375,000 having been estimated to bring 2 to 4 million dollars. Lot 110, the bracelet with the stunning black pearls brought $1,115,00 https://www.christies.com/lotfinder/jewelry/a-natural-pearl-and-diamond-bracelet-cartier-6211848-details.aspx?from=salesummery&intobjectid=6211848&sid=6d4148a6-3e86-4351-bd52-264836eca Sybil Cholmondeley's Cartier emerald, sapphire and diamond brooch, Lot 228 fetched $1,545,000 well over the estimate of 500 to 700 thousand dollars. https://www.christies.com/lotfinder/jewelry/an-art-deco-emerald-sapphire-and-diamond-6211965-details.aspx?from=salesummery&intobjectid=6211965&sid=6d4148a6-3e86-4351-bd52-264836eca2cf Other very wearable jewels - such as the Mirror of Paradise diamond, the riviere of the Nizams of Hyderabad, the Imperial Moghul Necklace by Cartier and others were sold. While I was interested in the prices fetched by the the more conventional jewels, it was the sale price of the various unmounted emeralds which really captured my interest. I could spend days studying this catalogue.

Re: Christie's Maharajas and Mughal Magnificence auction. The Baroda bracelet Posted by Beth on June 20, 2019, 6:49 pm, in reply to "Christie's Maharajas and Mughal Magnificence auction" I found some images of Sita Devi of Baroda wearing the stunning black pearl bracelet which I thought others might like to see. It is a great shame that none of the photos is in colour, especially the 1958 photo of her with Harry Belafonte. The bracelet. Image is from Christie's as per the link. https://www.christies.com/lotfinder/jewelry/a-natural-pearl-and-diamond-bracelet-cartier-6211848-details.aspx?from=salesummery&intobjectid=6211848&sid=6d4148a6-3e86-4351-bd52-264836eca Only part of the bracelet can be seen in this 1960 photo. And in this from 1960 1958 photo with Harry Belafonte

Re: Christie's Maharajas and Mughal Magnificence auction. The Patiala ruby choker Posted by Beth on June 20, 2019, 7:02 pm, in reply to "Re: Christie's Maharajas and Mughal Magnificence auction. The Baroda bracelet" The ruby choker by Cartier which was auctioned. https://www.christies.com/lotfinder/jewelry/the-patiala-ruby-choker-an-art-6212009-details.aspx?from=salesummery&intobjectid=6212009&sid=6d4148a6-3e86-4351-bd52-264836eca2cf Some old photos showing the complete Patiala ruby necklace worn in 1931. The complete necklace must have been an extraordinary sight.

Re: Christie's Maharajas and Mughal Magnificence auction. The Arcot II Posted by Beth on June 20, 2019, 7:21 pm, in reply to "Re: Christie's Maharajas and Mughal Magnificence auction. The Patiala ruby choker" The Arcot diamonds were at one time in the collection of Queen Charlotte mounted as earrings. HM left instructions that the diamonds were to be sold and the proceeds divided among her daughters. George IV delayed implementing that part of her will for a long time, but eventually they were sold and came into the possession of the jewellers Rundell and Bridge. After the death of the latter the Arcots were again sold, this time to Emanuel Brothers who were acting for the then Marquis of Westminster. A later Duke had the stones set in an extraordinary tiara. The rest of the provenance is given in Christie's details. https://www.christies.com/lotfinder/jewelry/the-arcot-ii-6211836-details.aspx?from=salesummery&intobjectid=6211836&sid=6d4148a6-3e86-4351-bd52-264836eca2cf 1937 auction The Arcots are the earrings described in item number 12.

Re: Christie's Maharajas and Mughal Magnificence auction Posted by Dave on June 21, 2019, 11:44 pm, in reply to "Christie's Maharajas and Mughal Magnificence auction" I am amazed at the absolutely high quality and weighty diamonds worn by a British Queen in those times which were not borrowed but owned outright. The sway would have you believe that the French, Russian and maybe the Savoy courts where the ones carrying the sway when it came to big and high quality jewels. I am just in love with the black pearl and diamond bracelet and wonder who now will be its owner along with the Arcot diamonds which I did not know was of the purest of quality. Kind Regards, Dave. Previous Message The much awaited auction of some of the treasures in the Al Thani collection took place at Christie's New York. Some of the items I was following failed to reach the estimated price, others exceeded the estimates. For all the results see https://www.christies.com/salelanding/index.aspx?intsaleid=28184&lid=1&saletitle=&pg=all&action=paging&sid=6d4148a6-3e86-4351-bd52-264836eca2cf#lot_6211965 One of the stars was the Arcot II diamond, once part of the collection of Queen Charlotte and later in the collection of the Dukes of Westminster and the celebrated Westminster tiara. https://www.christies.com/lotfinder/jewelry/the-arcot-ii-6211836-details.aspx?from=salesummery&intobjectid=6211836&sid=6d4148a6-3e86-4351-bd52-264836eca2cf It fetched $3,375,000 having been estimated to bring 2 to 4 million dollars. Lot 110, the bracelet with the stunning black pearls brought $1,115,00 https://www.christies.com/lotfinder/jewelry/a-natural-pearl-and-diamond-bracelet-cartier-6211848-details.aspx?from=salesummery&intobjectid=6211848&sid=6d4148a6-3e86-4351-bd52-264836eca Sybil Cholmondeley's Cartier emerald, sapphire and diamond brooch, Lot 228 fetched $1,545,000 well over the estimate of 500 to 700 thousand dollars. https://www.christies.com/lotfinder/jewelry/an-art-deco-emerald-sapphire-and-diamond-6211965-details.aspx?from=salesummery&intobjectid=6211965&sid=6d4148a6-3e86-4351-bd52-264836eca2cf Other very wearable jewels - such as the Mirror of Paradise diamond, the riviere of the Nizams of Hyderabad, the Imperial Moghul Necklace by Cartier and others were sold. While I was interested in the prices fetched by the the more conventional jewels, it was the sale price of the various unmounted emeralds which really captured my interest. I could spend days studying this catalogue.

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