Lot 132, "A Belle Eqoque Emeral and Diamond Brooch," has an amusing Anita Delgado connection, told by Mr. Kadakia, and expanded in Christie's catalogue for this sale:

The world-famous Koh I Noor Diamond that sits at the center of the Queen Mother's crown at the Tower of London - with which Queen Elizabeth was crowned - is the most legendary of the diamonds known as "Golkonda," named for the mines that were once in the lands ruled by the equally legendary Nizams of Hyderabad, whose name appears frequently on gorgeous gems at this auction.

Lot 264, "The Nizam's of Hyderabad Necklace, an Antique Diamond, Emerald and Enamel Necklace," illustrated above, was created in mid to late 19th century. The stunning diamonds are from the Golkonda mines that were situated in the the Nizams of Hyderabad sultanate:

"Golconda, a 14th-century Indian sultanate about six miles west of present-day Hyderabad, was known for its elaborate fort and its diamond mines. During the Renaissance, Golkonda came to be synonymous with great wealth, and the name is still spoken with reverence by deep-pocketed diamond traders and collectors, the kind of purists who will buy only natural pearls, Iranian turquoise, Colombian emeralds, and natural Burmese spinel. The Golkonda designation at an auction suggests that a stone's provenance can be traced all the way back to those historic mines, which the head of Christie's jewelry department, Rahul Kadakia, calls 'the beginning of diamonds.' For 2,000 years the mines at Golkonda were the only source of diamonds on earth (South Africa's deposits were not discovered until the late 19th century), but exclusivity took its toll. By 1725 the insatible appetites of Indian maharajas and European royals had exhausted the supply. Still, the ancient luster remains." (from "The Search for Golkonda," Town and Country Magazine, December 12, 2012)

Lot 264 has an estimate of $1,500,000-$2,500,000. It sold for $1,935,000.

It is a pity that Lot 149, A Belle Epoque Diamond Jigha," was not placed on a turban worn by a real human being during the preview of the sale. A magnificent photograph in Christie's catalogue shows the Maharaja Ranjitsinhi Vishaki, Jam Sahib of Nawanagar in full ceremonial regalia wearing a near identical version of Lot 149. The turban ornament is "set with old baguette and pear-shaped diamonds, white gold, fitted with plume holder on the reverse, lower portion detachable and may be work as a brooch, 5 1/2 inches, 1907, and remodeled in 1935." (Christie's catalogue).  Never did men in jewelry look as stunning as these maharajas. Their people thought of them as gods, so it was their obligation to shimmer and shine like a deity. And shine they did.

Lot 149 has an estimate of $1,200,000-$2,200,000. It sold for $1,815,000.

The delightful dinner set for four, illustrated below, would be my take-home lot from this sale. I like to think it is possible that such finery was even taken on picnics, when princes and maharajas and their entourage dined al fresco after a rigorous boar hunt, or a strenuous ride. The imagination runs wild when staring at such objects in contemporary auction rooms.

Lot 349, "A Set of Rock-Crystal and Gold Cutlery," was created in the 16th-17th century or later, and has an estimate of $100,000-$150,000. It sold for $225,000.

Lot 330, "An Antique Diamond and Multi-Gem Sarpech," 19th century, Sirdar Charanjit Singh of Kapurthala

Lot 129 is an antique emerald and diamond necklace Sarpech from the early 20th Century.  It was restrung at a later date by Repute Nizams of Hyderabad.  It has estimate of $200,000-$400,000. 

The dagger illustrated above, Lot 318, "A Gem Set God-Mounted Dagger (Jaambiyya) and Scabbard," is straight out of The Thousand and One Nights and Alladin. It is the fantasy dagger of childhood day-dreams and make-believe. It is an unusual combination of Persian and Indian, a gorgeous fusion of styles. It is originally from the collection of the Nizams of Hyderabad and has an estimate of $150,000-$200,000. It sold for $300,000.

There is so much that has to be left out of a review like this, including the stunning Lot 272, "Patiala Ruby Choker" commissioned by Maharaja Bhupinder Singh of Patiala, one of Cartier's most important Indian clients of the 1920s and 1930s, who often traveled to Paris with trunks of diamonds and gemstones from his treasury for Cartier's workshops. Created in 1931, it was restored and restrung by Cartier in 2102. Lot 272 has an estimate of  $800,000-$1,200,000. It sold for $975,000.

Lot 22, "An Antique Diamond Riviere Necklace," late 19th century, from the Nizam's of Hyderabad, (also not illustrated), has an estimate of $1,200,000-$1,500,000. It sold for $2,415,000, well above its estimate. It is a gorgeous necklace that literally lets the diamonds shine, with little interference. The settings are minimal. It could be designed today.

The sale has many exquisite miniature paintings, including some of emperors and nobles at sport. Falconry and "hawking" for one, was always the sport of kings, and the Mughal emperors and their courtiers were legendary for their hunts on horseback with the most formidable of all birds of prey - the falcon - illustrated in numerous albums commissioned by their emperors throughout the Mughal period and reaching far back into history.





The falcon is invoked in Lot 254, "An Antique Ruby and Gold Hawking Ring," that reputedly belonged to the famous warrior and monarch, Tipu Sultan of Mysore, - the Tiger of Mysore - created mid-to late 19th century. Many, like Tipu Sultan, were ferocious warriors that held their own with any in history. Tipu was a gigantic thorn in the side of the British East India Company, refusing to bow to their dictats, and eventually killed in battle by the joint forces of the Empire, the Nizam of Hyderabad and the Marathas, who has also had enough of him. Tipu waged war on many fronts, with the Marathas in particular, not just with the British. He is a controversial figure due to his repression of Christians and Hindus. His opinion of infidels comes through potently in a ferocious automaton - mechanical toy - called "Tipu's Tiger," still on view at the Victoria and Albert Museum in London, that depicts his tiger devouring a European man! He was also a pioneer of rocket artillery, which he fired at his opponents in every battle - a particularly sore point with the British because of the casualties they caused. Lot 254 has an estimate of  $60,000-$80,000. It sold for $162,500, well above its high estimate.

Lot 258, "A Group of Princes Out Hawking," (Murshidabad, Privincial Mughal, North India), was created in the mid-eighteenth century. Christie's catalogue offers valuable insights:

"This beautiful  illustration of a group of royal princes out hawking finds close comparison with the large landscape painting from Murshidabad in the Swinton Collection, which depicts the Mughal Emperor Muhammed Shah (r. 1719-48) hunting cranes with his hawks, attributable to the artist Chitarman, dating circa 1725-30. Both paintings illustrate the hunting cavalcade in the foreground with the figures dressed in traditional green hunting attire. Covered wagons drawn by bullocks on the left, hawks attacking cranes mid-air on the right, and the background receding with distant views of hills and an imperial entourage marching through the elements common to both paitnings...Our painting can also be compared to a processional scene portraying Mir Jafar Ali Khan on a hunting expedition with his son Miran, signed by the artist Purannath knownas Huhar II, painted Patna dating circa 1760, in the Victoria and Albert Museum, London."

Lot 257, ""Prince Mu'Azzam Bahadur Shah and a Courtier Holding a Falcon," offers a more intimate view of man and nature in all its magnificence. Created in Mughal India, in the first half of the 17th century, its provenance includes Colonel John Murray and Hagop Kevorkian. It is a real gem of a painting. Lot 257 has an estimate of $60,000-$80,000.It sold for $68,750.

As an artist, it is wonderful to see at least some of the names of these extraordinarly gifted Mughal artists attached to their beautiful work, as in the case of Chitaram. It is unclear, however,  if he - or they achieved great fame and fortune in their own right like their European counterparts, especially for portraits of royals, important battles and always sport.

All these magnificent objects were offered from The Al Thani Collection vaults. Next year works of art from this extensive collection, which includes over 6000 objects, will be shown at a new museum space in Paris. In addition to new acquisitions, sale proceeds will support ongoing initiatives of the Al Thani Collection Foundation, which extend from exhibitions, publications and lectures to sponsorships of projects at museums around the world.

If this sale is a sampling of what the rest of the collection has to offer, we are in for a real treat.