Lot 195. A diamond and carved emerald-set enamelled necklace, India, 19th-20th century; 23cm. height; 15cm. max. diam. Estimate: 25,000 - 35,000 GBP. Courtesy Sotheby's.

featuring a large carved emerald pendant set within a foliate frame, with articulated openwork metal settings designed as flowerheads, set with diamonds, polychrome enamelling to reverse with floral details, metal thread string with seed pearl terminals.

Provenance: Previously property of an Indian maharani.

Private collection, UK, since the early 1970s.

Note: It is interesting to note the similar style of carving and shape of the large carved emerald hanging prominently from this necklace with the emerald on the 'Empress Crown', part of Farah Pahlavi, the Empress of Iran's coronation regalia, made by Van Cleef and Arpels with loose gemstones in the Iranian Imperial treasury, some of which must have been brought back by Nader Shah's victorious armies following his invasion of India and sack of Delhi in 1739.

Sotheby's. ARTS OF THE ISLAMIC WORLD AND INDIA INCLUDING FINE RUGS AND CARPETS, 01 Apr 2020