Lot 191. A highly-important imperial Mughal spinel, inscribed with the names of emperors Jahangir, Prince Khurram and ‘Alamgir (Aurangzeb), India, dated 1024 AH/1615 AD and 1070 AH/1659 AD. Estimate 60,000 — 80,000 GBP. Lot sold 272,750 GBP. Photo: Sotheby's 2017.

the pinkish stone weighing approximately 54.5 carats, incised with nasta'liq calligraphy, pierced through the centre and set with a later gold chain and hanging seed-pearl and metal-thread pendant, in bespoke velvet-lined box, with accompanying type-written letter; spinel: 2cm. on chain, with pendant: 38.3cm.  54.5 carats.

Provenance: Ex-collection Mrs David Graham Pole, early 20th century, 
possibly via her daughter Dorothy, married to Hugh Ruttledge, Deputy Commissioner of Lucknow and Almora, 1921-29.
Private collection, UK.

Note: inscriptions

‘Jahangir [son] of Akbar Shah’ 
‘Khurram [son] of Jahangir Shah 1024 AH(1615-16 AD)’
‘Alamgir [pad] sh [ah] (?) 1070 AH (1659-60 AD)’

Jahangir and Prince Khurram inscriptions.

Alamgir Inscrpition.

From the fabled treasury of the Mughal emperors to the hands of a private collector in rural England, the storied history of this precious stone documents the genealogy of the imperial family at the height of their power and prestige.

Inscribed with the names of three royal patrons, and embodying concepts of identity, legitimacy and authority, this most coveted of gemstones, whose wine-dark hues evoke the light of dusk (shafaq), offers a rare insight into the private lives and dynastic preoccupations of India's greatest ruling house.

Whilst the practice of engraving precious stones with royal titles was certainly an ancient one, it was probably introduced to the Mughals through their ancestors the Timurids. Spinels were mined in Badakhshan, the region between Afghanistan and Tajikistan which came under Timurid control in the thirteenth century. Not actually recognised as spinels until the nineteenth century, these gemstones were originally considered to be rubies. A number of spinels erroneously made their way into famous collections as rubies, for example the magnificent ‘Timur Ruby’ in the Queen’s crown jewels. Passing through the hands of Tamerlane, Shah 'Abbas, five Mughal emperors, and Nadir Shah before entering Queen Victoria’s collection in 1850, it was subsequently discovered to be a spinel.

The present spinel illustrates the practice amongst Mughal emperors of inscribing their names and dates on the precious stones in their possession and of passing them on to descendants. Inscribed with three royal titles, this spinel is particularly rare, and can be compared to another renowned spinel, the ‘Carew Spinel’ in the Victoria and Albert Museum (inv. no. IM.243-1922). Both examples were inscribed with the names of three generations of Mughal rulers, emperor Jahangir, Prince Khurram (the future emperor Shah Jahan) and emperor Alamgir (Aurangzeb).

The Carew spinel engraved with the titles of Jahangir (r.1605-27), Shah Jahan (dated 1629-30) and 'Alamgir (Aurangzeb) (dated 1666), Mughal empire, 17th century. Spinel, drilled and set on a gold pin, with a diamond at top and bottom. Height: 4 cm, Width: 2.3 cm, Weight: 133.5 ct. Bequeathed by the Rt. Hon. Julia Mary, Lady Carew, IM.243-1922 © Victoria and Albert Museum, London 2017.

Many of the surviving gemstones are attributed to the period of emperor Jahangir (r.1605-27) who was particularly fond of this tradition. When Jacques de Coutre, a Flemish gem-cutter and jewel merchant visited Jahangir’s court, he described the emperor as covered with so many precious stones that he looked ‘like an idol… and had more jewels than all the monarchs of Europe put together’ (Stronge 2010, p.172).

Spinels of this quality, with royal provenance, rarely appear on the market. An imperial Mughal spinel necklace inscribed multiple times with the names of Jahangir, Shah Jahan and Alamgir (Aurangzeb) sold for a record $5.2 million at Christie’s, Geneva, on 18 May 2011. Further comparable examples are in a number of institutions and collections worldwide, including at least twenty-two in the Al-Sabah collection, Kuwait (Keene 2001, pp.134-140, nos. 12.1-12.22), The Baharat Kala Bhavan in Benares, India (Welch 1963, p.170, no.49), the Khalili Collection, London (inv. no. JLY 1790), the Museum of Islamic Art, Doha (inv. no. JE.170.2003) and others in the al-Thani collection (Jaffer 2013, pp.97-8, nos.18-20). An imperial Mughal emerald inscribed with the name of Emperior Jahangir was sold in these rooms, 28 April 2004, lot 162.

Inscribed royal spinel «The Timur Ruby», Mughal dominions, before 1449 to mid-18th century. Spinel 249.3 carats. The al-Sabah Collection, Kuwait. © 1997-2017 The Moscow Kremlin State Historical and Cultural Museum and Heritage Site

An imperial Mughal spinel necklace, Three of the spinels are engraved. Two with the name of Emperor Jahangir, one with the three names of Emperor Jahangir, Emperor Shah Jahan and Emperor Alamgir, also known as Aurangzeb. Sold CHF 4,579,000 (USD 5,214,348) at Christie's Geneva Magnificent Jewels, 18 May 2011. © Christie's Images Ltd 2011

Imperial spinel necklace, North India. © The Al Thani Collection

Spinel and pearl necklace from the Mughal Empire. The Al Thani Collection © Servette Overseas Limited 2014. Photo: Prudence Cuming Associates Ltd 

Sotheby's. Arts of the Islamic World, London, 26 Apr 2017, 10:30 AM