Former Maharaja's canopy fetches crores

A Maharaja's pearl canopy is a recent treasure that went under the hammer at a New York auction house.

Raj S. Rangarajan

Yet another former treasure was sold recently at Sotheby's New York: a pearl canopy, originally from Baroda, Gujarat for a handsome 2.32 million USD. Measuring 3 feet 11 inches in diameter it was commissioned during the British Raj (circa 1865-70) by the then Maharaja of Baroda, Khande Rao Gaekwar (r. 1856-1870).

Embroidered with about 9.5 lakh 'Basra' pearls and beads, and embellished with diamonds, rubies, sapphires and emeralds, this opulent suite exemplified the grandeur, wealth and sophistication of the time. The rosettes are circled by small natural 'Basra' 3-4 mm pearls. The designs in the rosettes were set with over 200 table-cut and occasional rose-cut diamonds, all set in silver topped gold or possibly blackened gold; the motifs were further enhanced with approximately 700 foil backed rubies, emeralds and sapphires set in gold.

This exquisite bejeweled canopy and a Pearl Carpet of Baroda were two surviving pieces of an ensemble of five. For over 100 years, the Pearl Canopy of Baroda was hidden from public view. The 5' 8" x 8' 8" carpet was sold at Sotheby's Doha in March 2009 for 5.5 million USD. This too was artistically structured with a million tiny seed pearls, rubies, sapphires and diamonds on a silk/deer hide forming the base. The other three components that completed the ensemble were supposed to be rectangular carpets, which if placed vertically would have formed a regal enclosure.

Khande Rao Gaekwar who ascended to the throne in 1856 during the British Raj was known for his sophistication and love for the arts and architecture. Obviously he could command the services of skilled gem-cutters and craftsmen who created a canopy that blended Persian and indigenous Indian traditions. Among the magnificent jewels he acquired in 1867 was the 128-carat 'Star of the South' diamond.

From a provenance standpoint, the canopy passed by descent to Maharaja Sayaji Rao Gaekwar and on to Maharaja Pratapsingh Rao Gaekwar who was married to Sita Devi, daughter of the zamindar of Pithapuram, now in Andhra Pradesh. Sita Devi, who was born in Madras, was a high-flying socialite and lived out of Monaco. The story goes that Pratapsingh Rao and Sita Devi were smitten the moment they met at the Madras Race Course in 1943. When the former Maharani moved to Monaco the canopy went with her and it was in a private collection since 1985. Sita Devi died in Paris in February 1989.

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(A New York based independent trend writer, Raj S. Rangarajan reports on the art market and auto shows and reviews films for media based in New York; Toronto, Canada; and India.)