The highest total for any auction of Indian art and Mughal objects
The most anticipated jewellery and objects sale of the season, Maharajas & Mughal Magnificence, achieved a staggering total of $109,271,875 (R749 crore), auction house Christie’s reported. The cache of jewellery and Mughal objects offered from the Al Thani Collection established the highest total for any auction of Indian art and Mughal objects, and the second highest auction total for a private jewellery collection. The record for a single-owner jewellery auction is currently held by the collection of Elizabeth Taylor that fetched $115.9 million in 2011.
Hyderabad, Deccan, circa 1775-1825
Price realised: $1,035,000
52.58 carats, D Colour, IF
Price realised: $6,517,500
Christie’s said that the auction showcases the illustrious culture of Indian jewelled arts from the Mughal period and the age of the Maharajas, exploring the creative dialogue between India and the West, through to the present day. The collection begins in Mughal India, under the most important dynasty that ruled the country, famous for its emeralds, diamonds, sapphires, rubies, weapons and objects that are bejewelled beyond belief. It traces the history of jewellery from early Mughal India through the Maharajas and their collaboration with the world’s most renowned jewellery houses to create some of the most exceptional pieces of jewellery ever made.
At a marathon twelve-hour auction on June 19th at Christie’s New York, 93% of the collection sold by lot and 92% sold by value.
Sale registrants came from 45 countries across five continents and there was extensive participation across all sale channels with notable institutional bidding. The sale was presented in partnership between Christie’s market-leading jewellery department and world art department along with the independent art advisory firm The Fine Art Group.
India, 1907; remodelled circa 1935. Total weight of diamonds approximately 152.60 carats
Price realised: $1,815,000
Late 19th century, hooded serpent hair ornament
Price realised: $175,000
Mellerio dits Meller, Paris, circa 1905 From the collection of Maharaja Jagatjit Singh of Kapurthala
Price realised: $735,000
JAR, Paris, 2013
Price realised: $550,000
Hyderabad, Central India, 1880-1900
Price realised: $1,935,000
Hyderabad, circa 1890, the seven largest diamonds ranging from 9.90 to 24.38 carats. From the collection of the Nizams of Hyderabad
Price realised: $2,415,000
D Colour, Internally Flawless, 17.21 carats.
One of two diamonds presented to Queen Charlotte, wife of King George III by Muhammad Ali Wallajah, Nawab
of Arcot
Price realised: $3,375,000
19th century
Price realised: $100,000
16-17th century
Price realised: $663,000
17th Century
Price realised: $3,015,000
Bhagat, 2012
Price realised: $1,695,000
Hyderabad, circa 1800-1850. Two spinels dated 1607-8 and 1633-34, inscribed in Persian with the names of Mughal Emperors Jahangir and Shah Jahan
Price realised: $1,155,000
Antique spinel and enamel ring, late 19th or early 20th century
Price realised: $795,000
Over the course of the sale, three world auction records were set for Indian works of art and 29 lots achieved over $1 million. The top lot of the sale was a Belle Époque Devant-de-corsage, by Cartier, Paris, 1912, which sold for $10,603,500 to a private collector in the room.
Additional top lots included the Mirror of Paradise, D-colour, internally flawless Golconda diamond of 52.58 carats, which achieved $6,517,500; the Shah Jahan Dagger which sold for $3,375,000, establishing the record price for an Indian jade object and record for a piece with Shah Jahan provenance; an antique Imperial Spinel, Pearl and Emerald Necklace, which realised $3,015,000; and the Golconda Diamond Rivière Necklace, from the collection of the Nizams of Hyderabad, which sold for $2,415,000.
Other notable results included important signed pieces by Cartier, including a spinel, natural pearl, diamond and emerald bead Imperial Moghul Necklace and Earrings, that sold for $1,935,000. Contemporary pieces by JAR and Bhagat were also 100% sold, greatly exceeding estimates. Impressive prices were achieved for bejewelled Mughal objects including an Enamelled and Gem Set Model of a Parrot, which realised $1,035,000; and an Enamelled and Gem Set Huqqa, that achieved $759,000, establishing the world auction record for an Indian huqqa.
The attendance for the global tours in London, Shanghai, Geneva, and Hong Kong, combined with the New York exhibition welcomed 50,000 visitors with tremendous attention over the five-day public exhibition in New York, averaging 1,500 visitors per day. Drawing key inspirations from the Maharaja of Indore and his palace Manik Bagh (Palace of Rubies), the bespoke New York exhibition evoked the artistic dialogue of the East and the West with the incorporation of jalis (latticed screens), dreamlike floral installations including an orchid canopy, juxtaposed with art deco influences, featuring luxurious marquetry, brass light fixtures, and lacquer-panelled cases, paying homage to architectural notes found from Indore to Rockefeller Center.
Since the collection announcement, there have been 2.6 million unique visitors to Christie’s.com with over 17 million page views.
Online traffic to Christie’s Online Magazine during this time spanned 1.8 million page views across the various web features and 3.6 million views for the 41 unique videos created for the collection.
Guillaume Cerutti, chief executive officer of Christie’s, said: “We are very honoured to have been entrusted with this magnificent and diverse selection of jewels, art and objects from the larger Al Thani Collection. The strong results today, after twelve hours of non-stop bidding, in front of a packed room and with phone and online bidders from all over the world, reflect the exceptional quality of this special collection and position it among the most storied private collections ever featured at auction.”
Philip Hoffman, founder and CEO, The Fine Art Group, remarked: “I am honoured that The Fine Art Group were able to play a part in this record-breaking sale of Indian and Mughal jewellery. The success of Maharajas and Mughal Magnificence is testament to the hard work of the Christie’s team, led by François Curiel, Rahul Kadakia and William Robinson.”
Rahul Kadakia, international head of jewellery at Christie’s, added, “Beginning with the sale announcement in April, there has been an overwhelming response to this exceptional collection with momentum building from the international tour to the New York exhibition culminating with the excitement witnessed in the saleroom. Today we witnessed a record total for the world’s greatest collection of Indian jewels and jewelled objects to ever be brought to auction. The impressive prices realised for the jewels ranging from early Mughal pieces to the significant designs by Cartier through to contemporary pieces by Bhagat and JAR illustrate the sophisticated buying tastes of our clients.”
William Robinson, international head of world art, Christie’s, noted, “This incredible collection traced the history of Mughal jewels and objects to present-day. From exceptional daggers worn by the elite nobles and royal families of India to important jewels inspired by Indian tradition and architecture, the auction of this notable collection represented a significant cultural moment for Indian and Islamic art. We are delighted with the strong results witnessed across the category with records set for an Indian jade, dagger, sword, and huqqa, which showcase the global appetite for masterpiece-quality works.”
From next year, works of art from this encyclopaedic collection, which includes over 6,000 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 sponsorship of projects at museums around the world.