Christie's. Maharajas & Mughal Magnificence, New York, 19 June 2019
A silk and gold-thread embroidered sash, North India, possibly Delhi, second half 19th century
Lot 246. A silk and gold-thread embroidered sash, North India, possibly Delhi, second half 19th century. Estimate USD 20,000 - USD 30,000. Price realised USD 35,000. © Christie's Images Ltd 2019
The gold slide-bar and buckle each set with diamonds, rubies and emeralds, backed with an orange velvet. Sash 2 ins. (5.1 cm.) wide; bar 4 ¼ ins. (12.1 cm.) wide; buckle 2 ½ x 3 1/8 ins. (6.5 x 8 cm.)
Literature: Jaffer 2013, pp.226-228, no.93.
Exhibited: Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York 2014, pp.82-83
Victoria and Albert Museum, London 2015, p.116, no.65
The Miho Museum, Koka 2016, pp.138-39, no.104
Grand Palais, Paris 2017, pp.264-65, no.197
The Doge’s Palace, Venice 2017, p.128, no.193
The Palace Museum, Beijing 2018, p.297, no. 197.
Note: A very similar buckle was fitted to the centre of a tortoiseshell shield presented to the Prince of Wales on his tour of India in 1876, now in the British Royal Collection. (inv.no. RCIN 11411; Meghani, 2018, p.147). Presented by the Maharaja of Patiala, it was already at that stage reported in the Illustrated London News as being re-used from another setting.