Christie's Maharajas & Mughal Magnificence auction achieves $109,271,875'
June 24, 19
After a marathon twelve-hour auction, Christie's Maharajas & Mughal Magnificence auction achieved $109,271,875 with 93 percent sold by lot and 92 percent sold by value, establishing the highest total for any auction of Indian art and Mughal objects, and the second highest auction total for a private jewelry collection. Sale registrants came from 45 countries across five continents and there was extensive participation across all sale channels with notable institutional bidding.
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, a 52.58 carat, D color, IF diamond 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 realized $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 percent sold, greatly exceeding estimates. Impressive prices were achieved for bejeweled Mughal objects including an enameled and gem set model of a parrot, which realized $1,035,000; and an enameled and gem set Huqqa, that achieved $759,000, establishing the world auction record for an Indian huqqa.
William Robinson, International Head of World Art, Christie's, notes, "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."
These objects were offered from The Al Thani Collection. From next year, works of art from this encyclopedic 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 sponsorships of projects at museums around the world.