Arts of the Islamic World & India including Fine Rugs and Carpets
Arts of the Islamic World & India including Fine Rugs and Carpets
A gem-set and enamelled turban ornament (sarpech), India, late 19th/early 20th century
Auction Closed
March 30, 12:47 PM GMT
Estimate
50,000 - 80,000 GBP
Lot Details
Description
the openwork hinged body set with foiled diamonds and a large central carved emerald, topped with a curling jigha and hanging emeralds, a row of pearls running along the upper border, the reverse with polychrome enamelled floral details, suspension cords with seed pearls
13.5 by 9.5cm.
Ex-Patiala Collection, by repute.
Private collection, UK, since 1940.
Private collection, UK, since 1940.
The jigha has three stems curling outwards, two towards one side and one addorsed. This particular design is unusual and can be compared to examples dated to the 1910s. Maharaja Tukojirao Holkar III of Indore, in a photograph dated 1911, is wearing a sarpech with a similar jigha (published in Jaffer 2013, p.214). Another even closer example is the ornament worn by Sir Bhupinder Singh, Maharaja of Patiala (1891-1938) in a series of photographs dated 1911 now in the National Portrait Gallery, London, inv. no. NPG x98674 to NPG x98678. The sarpech has both a similar jigha and a row of pearls running along the upper border.