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Lot Essay
Sayaji Rao Gaekwar III (r.1875-1939)
Sayaji Rao was adopted from a farming family and became one of Baroda's greatest modern leaders. He was born in a Maratha family at Kavlana in Malegaon Tahsil Dist. Nashik as Shrimant Gopalrao Gaekwad. Sayaji Rao's substantial education opened doors to European learning and society. He travelled extensively, and by studying other cultures, implemented great improvements to his state, such as promoting health care and education, addressing social injustice, developing communication networks, and even establishing a museum to bring fine art to the region. He also believed strongly in Indian nationalism and was celebrated for his strong beliefs in a free India. His wife Chimnabai, a progressive thinker, also contributed to the development of the state. Chimnabai was an adventurous and self-assured woman who was passionate about gemstones and pearls and loved to show it. She made many of the purchasing decisions and would take pleasure in outwitting the European jewellers with her keen knowledge about diamonds. It was during her extensive travels that she became acquainted with the House of Cartier. It has even been suggested that Jacques Cartier's first trip to India in 1911, the same year as the Delhi Durbar, was prompted by an invitation from Chimnabai and Sayaji Rao.
The Delhi Durbar of 1911
One of the most spectacular events of the British Raj was the Delhi Durbar of 1911. It was held to crown King George V and Queen Mary as Emperor and Empress of India. It also to marked the transfer of the capital to Delhi from Calcutta. Naturally, each Maharaja tried to be the most bejewelled, and it was on this historic occasion that the Maharaja of Baroda wore his famous pearls (the two final strands from this much sought-after pearl necklace sold, Magnificent Jewels, Christie’s, New York, 25 April 2007, lot 262). For the 1911 Delhi Durbar, the Maharaja presumably ordered additional pieces from Spink and Son, to supplement to his already great silver dinner service by Mortimer and Hunt. The inventory numbers among the items in the current lot give an indication of its extent. With dinner-plates numbering over one hundred, the sheer numbers and weight of the service rivalled the Royal dinner services of Europe and Russia. The Maharajas became known for their lavish taste and ornate decorations, which would reach near mythical proportions. Word of their boundless riches and luxurious taste spread quickly and certain princely families began to make headlines, most notably the Maharajas of Baroda.
Shri Kirtilal Manilal Mehta (1907-1993)
Known as the ‘Father of the Indian Diamond Industry’ Shri Kirtilal Manilal Mehta was an expert in diamonds and coloured stones as well as in antiques, buying jewellery and antiques directly from the Maharaja of Baroda. His Royal Majesty, King of Boudewijn of Belgium awarded Mr. Mehta the Order of Leopold, (the highest order of knighthood of Belgium) for his outstanding contribution towards the strengthening of Belgian-Indian trade relations. Shri Kirtilal Manilal Mehta played a key role in promoting Indo-Israel relations and in 1987 he was honoured with the Presidential Award as Israel’s ‘Outstanding Trade Promoter’.
Sayaji Rao was adopted from a farming family and became one of Baroda's greatest modern leaders. He was born in a Maratha family at Kavlana in Malegaon Tahsil Dist. Nashik as Shrimant Gopalrao Gaekwad. Sayaji Rao's substantial education opened doors to European learning and society. He travelled extensively, and by studying other cultures, implemented great improvements to his state, such as promoting health care and education, addressing social injustice, developing communication networks, and even establishing a museum to bring fine art to the region. He also believed strongly in Indian nationalism and was celebrated for his strong beliefs in a free India. His wife Chimnabai, a progressive thinker, also contributed to the development of the state. Chimnabai was an adventurous and self-assured woman who was passionate about gemstones and pearls and loved to show it. She made many of the purchasing decisions and would take pleasure in outwitting the European jewellers with her keen knowledge about diamonds. It was during her extensive travels that she became acquainted with the House of Cartier. It has even been suggested that Jacques Cartier's first trip to India in 1911, the same year as the Delhi Durbar, was prompted by an invitation from Chimnabai and Sayaji Rao.
The Delhi Durbar of 1911
One of the most spectacular events of the British Raj was the Delhi Durbar of 1911. It was held to crown King George V and Queen Mary as Emperor and Empress of India. It also to marked the transfer of the capital to Delhi from Calcutta. Naturally, each Maharaja tried to be the most bejewelled, and it was on this historic occasion that the Maharaja of Baroda wore his famous pearls (the two final strands from this much sought-after pearl necklace sold, Magnificent Jewels, Christie’s, New York, 25 April 2007, lot 262). For the 1911 Delhi Durbar, the Maharaja presumably ordered additional pieces from Spink and Son, to supplement to his already great silver dinner service by Mortimer and Hunt. The inventory numbers among the items in the current lot give an indication of its extent. With dinner-plates numbering over one hundred, the sheer numbers and weight of the service rivalled the Royal dinner services of Europe and Russia. The Maharajas became known for their lavish taste and ornate decorations, which would reach near mythical proportions. Word of their boundless riches and luxurious taste spread quickly and certain princely families began to make headlines, most notably the Maharajas of Baroda.
Shri Kirtilal Manilal Mehta (1907-1993)
Known as the ‘Father of the Indian Diamond Industry’ Shri Kirtilal Manilal Mehta was an expert in diamonds and coloured stones as well as in antiques, buying jewellery and antiques directly from the Maharaja of Baroda. His Royal Majesty, King of Boudewijn of Belgium awarded Mr. Mehta the Order of Leopold, (the highest order of knighthood of Belgium) for his outstanding contribution towards the strengthening of Belgian-Indian trade relations. Shri Kirtilal Manilal Mehta played a key role in promoting Indo-Israel relations and in 1987 he was honoured with the Presidential Award as Israel’s ‘Outstanding Trade Promoter’.