Nizam's ceremonial sword studded with gemstones,etc.indiaaheadnews.com |
Nizam's jewelry collection Christie's auction 2019 NYC. siasat.com |
About one year ago on 20 June 2019 in New York city there was a large and rich collection of Indian jewelry auction conducted by the famous auction house - Christie's. What was special about this ballyhooed auction, that was the subject of discussion among the rich and famous? Yes, the items included an amazing and rare collection of 17-carat Golconda diamond "Arcot II", once owned by the Nawab of Arcot ( now Tamil Nadu), an alley of the British and an antique diamond Riviere necklace once owned by the Nizams of Hyderabad who were in the good books of the colonial rulers.
The well attended auction was a successful one for the globally acclaimed auction house, because they sold the collection of Indian jewels and jeweled objects for USD 109.3 million, a whooping sum. A premium "once-in-a-lifetime" collection of royal Indian jewelry auction sale hit the highest total ever for any auction of Indian art and jeweled objects, according Christie's.The Arcot II diamond sold for a stunning USD 3,375,00 (Rs 23.5 crore).
The other attraction was a Ceremonial Sword of the Nizam of Hyderabad' that fetched $1,935,000, establishing a new World Auction Record for an Indian Sword. The owner Hyderabad Nizam was in the 1930s the richest man in the world and he had a fleet of expensive cars including RRs. He once used a big diamond as a paper weight in his office without knowing it, mistaking it for a glass stone.
The other items included in the sale were: An antique diamond Riviere necklace once owned by the Nizams which sold for nearly USD 2,415,000 (Rs 17 crore). The 33-diamond necklace was estimated to sell for USD 1,500,000 (nearly Rs 10.5 crore), Christie's announced on Twitter. 10.46 carat Pink Golconda diamond, internally flawless stone, the value of which is estimated to be between 1.5 million USD to 2 million USD. It got a better price.
The privateauction otherwise called the Maharajah and Mughal Magnificence auction in New York achieved the highest record sale. The reasons are: their heritage value, amazing craftsmanship and beautiful design. These artistically rich and flawless royal jewels with intricate design bear testimony to the sheer grandeur and opulence of the Indian rulers, in particular the Nizam of Hyderabad - the Asaf Jahi dynasty. They were fabulously rich and the several items sold here were from the collections of Nizam Mir Osman Ali Khan. Equally rich Royal families of Jaipur, Indore, and Baroda were also represented in the sale. these families once had a very rich collection of diamonds, gemstones, jewelry, etc on a grand scale.
On display were 400 lots in the auction including finest jewelry gem-studded swords, daggers, etc once owned by famous Indian Maharajahs and Nawabs. The current auction record is held by 'The Collection of Elizabeth Taylor' which totaled USD 144 million in 2011.
The auction took off with stylish 'Indore Sapphire Taveez Bead Pendant Necklace, mounted By Cartier' that owes its provenance to Indore's Popular Maharajah Yeshwant Rao Holkar II, who had his education in England.
Tipu Sultan, the Mysore ruler, who terrorized the East India company's army in the late 1700s was fond of jewelry. His Magic Box' fetched more than three times the estimate, realizing $495,000. The royal necklace (apparently of the Holker Dynasty) achieved USD 206,250 (Rs 1.44 crore), surpassing a high estimate of USD 60,000 (Rs 42 lakh), Christie's said in a tweet. An antique diamond ring worn by queen mother Rajmata Gayatri Devi of Jaipur, Rajasthan sold for Rs 4.45 crore.
Another major sale was of an enameled and jewelled 'huqqah' set from 1680-1720, "almost certainly made in the imperial Mogul workshop" as per Christie's description. This interesting item went under the hammer for USD 759,000 (almost Rs 5.3 crore) as compared to its higher limit estimate of USD 350,000 (almost Rs 2.4 crore).
Ye another attraction was a carved emerald brooch, and interchangeable 'Jigha' mounting depicting Hindu deities Lord Rama, Sita and Hanuman sold for USD 735,000 (close to Rs 5.12 crore). Another interesting item - a five-strand natural pearl and diamond necklace and a diamond brooch created by Mumbai-based jewelry house Bhagat sold for high prices as well - Rs 11.8 crore and Rs 1.5 crore respectively.https://www.newindianexpress.com/world/2019/jun/20/indian-royal-jewels-fetch-high-prices-at-global-auction-house-christies-1992844.html