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AuctionsApr 28, 2016
Royal Manga Malai Necklace Sells for $47K at Bonhams
The gold necklace set with rubies, emeralds and diamonds went for well below its pre-sale estimate of $73,000 to $90,000.
This gold manga malai necklace set with rubies, emeralds and diamonds sold for well below its pre-sale estimate at Bonhams last week, garnering $46,500 when it was expected to sell for $73,000 to $90,000.
London--A manga malai necklace with royal provenance sold for approximately $46,500 at Bonhams last week, falling well below its pre-sale estimate.
The piece was featured as part of the auction house’s Islamic and Indian Art sale held April 19, offering a number of jewels that belonged to an Indian royal family.
The leading lot of the pieces was the manga malai necklace from the 19th century, composed of linked mango-shaped elements--the mango is regarded as a symbol of love and fertility in southern Indian--and set with rubies and diamonds.
It was expected to sell for between $73,000 and $90,000.
Another piece in the set, a rare belt buckle set with emeralds and diamonds on the front and intricate enamel floral details on the back, sold within its pre-sale range when it garnered about $30,000.
A delicate armband featuring a central octagonal diamond flanked by diamond-set motifs and a back side that was decorated with enamel sold for approximately $7,300, while a gem-set enameled jade “haldili” pendant bearing a calligraphic script from the Quran garnered approximately $6,400.
The gem-set enameled dagger that was expected to sell for between $44,000 and $73,000, meanwhile, didn’t find a buyer at the auction. The dagger has a hilt decorated with gold, rubies and diamonds and is of a type rarely produced in Mughal India, according to Bonhams.
Click through to see the four pieces from an Indian royal family and what they sold for at Bonhams.
This 19th century diamond-set enameled armband (bazuband) featuring a central octagonal-shaped diamond surrounded by smaller diamonds in the form of a stylized flower head went for $7,300.
This 19th century emerald and diamond-set enameled belt buckle from north India garnered about $30,000 at Bonhams.
This gem-set enameled jade pendant from 19th century India, composed of a cartouche form jade haldili (amulet) set in gold and bearing an engraved inscription in nasta’liq (a calligraphic script) from the Quran sold for $6,400.
Manga malai necklaces are unique to south India and traditionally were worn for special occasions, such as weddings, and also by devadasis (temple dancers.) This circa 19th century example featuring diamonds, rubies and emeralds set in gold from the Tamil Nadu area of south India sold for approximately $46,500.
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