Sikh Queens necklace fetches £55,200

The highlight of the sale was an important 19th Century emerald and seed-pearl Necklace from the Lahore Treasury, reputedly worn by the Sikh Maharani Jindan Kaur wife of Ranjit Singh, the Lion of the Punjab (1780–1839), which sold for twice its estimate at £55,200. The necklace has six polished emerald beads, one later converted to a pendant, each bead gold-mounted and fringed with seed-pearl drop tassels, fastened with a gold clasp. This exquisite piece comes with a fitted cloth covered case, the inside of which is inscribed: "From the Collection of the Court of Lahore formed by HH The Maharajah Runjeet Singh & lastly worn by Her Highness The Late Maharanee Jeddan Kower".

Bonhams raised a total of £1,150,000 at today’s Islamic and Indian Art New Bond Street sale, which featured an array of important historical pieces.

Another success from the sale was a fine selection of Islamic manuscripts, including a large Qur’an leaf from the ‘Five Suras’ (circa 1350-1420), which fetched an impressive £38,400 (estimated £15,000-20,000).

Elsewhere, an Ottoman silk and metal-thread embroidered calligraphic Band (hizam) from the Holy Ka'ba at Mecca Turkey or Egypt, period of Selim III (AH 1203-1222/ AD 1789-1807) sold for a staggering £84,000, against a pre-sale estimate of £50,000-70,000. Whilst a magnificent Syrian 12th Century Ayyubid curved marble capital set on a round base reached a very substantial £26,400 (estimated £15,000-20,000).

From the exquisite collection of Iznik pottery on offer, a fine large Iznik pottery dish from Turkey, circa 1560-70 sold for over twice its pre-sale estimate at £26,400.

Kristina Sanne, Head of Indian and Islamic Art at Bonhams comments, comments: "We are very pleased with the results achieved today. It clearly demonstrates that Bonhams has a very strong presence in this area of art and that the Indian and Islamic art market is buoyant despite all the talk of recession."

with thanks : source : http://www.emgonline.co.uk/news.php?news=7671

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