Al-Thani Archives | gioiellis.com

Christie’s success for the maharaja’s auction

Published on June 20, 2019

Devant-de-corsage epoca Belle Époque, Cartier, 1912. Venduto per 10,6 milioni

The jewels of the Maharajas of the Al Thani collection sold by Christie’s at an auction of 109 million dollars ♦ ︎

It seems that the era of the maharajas retains a great charm. And, in particular, they have fascinated the opulent jewels that were part of the celebrated Al Thani collection, emir of Qatar. Indeed, judging by the outcome of the Maharajas & Mughal Magnificence auction organized by Christie’s in New York, these jewels beat everyone. Thanks also to the tour organized by Christie’s in London, Shanghai, Geneva and Hong Kong, in addition to the New York exhibition, which welcomed 50,000 visitors.

The auction that included the jewels of Indian nobles ended after a 12-hour marathon. Result: sales of 109.3 million dollars (equal to 97.5 million euros), with 93% of the pieces sold. No wonder the auction has established the highest total for any sale of Indian and Mughal art objects, and the second highest auction total for a private jewelry collection.
The sale was presented in partnership between Christie’s jewelry department and the World Art department, together with the independent art consultancy The Fine Art Group.

Collana antica di spinello imperiale, perle e smeraldi

It’s worth going into detail: during the sale, three worldwide auction records for Indian works of art were touched and 29 lots were sold for over 1 million dollars. The top lot has been touched by a devant-de-corsage jewel (that is, worn on the chest), the Belle Époque era by Cartier, Paris, 1912, sold for 10.6 million to a private collector. Among the other lots that have reached top prices, there is also the Diamond of Paradise diamond, 52.58 carats, D Color, IF, which reached 6.5 million, while a dagger with carved jade handle, Lo Shah Jahan Dagger, was sold for 3.4 million, a record for an object of Indian jade and record for a piece Shah Jahan.

We are very honored to have been entrusted with this magnificent and diverse selection of jewels, art and objects from the larger Al Thani Collection. The strong results today, after twelve hours of non-stop bidding, in front of a packed room and with phone and online bidders from all over the world, reflect the exceptional quality of this special collection and position it among the most storied private collections ever featured at auction.
Guillaume Cerutti, CEO of Christie’s

Let’s go back to jewels: an ancient necklace of imperial spinel, pearls and emeralds was sold for 3 million, the Golconda Diamond Rivière necklace, from the collection of the Nizams of Hyderabad, which was sold for 2.4 million. And a necklace of emeralds Imperial Moghul Necklace and earrings, were sold for 1.9 million.

But the auction was not only occupied by the jewels of the maharajas. For example, all the contemporary pieces by Jar and Bhagat have been sold, far exceeding the estimates. Federico Graglia

L'asta Maharajas & Mughal Magnificence organizzata da Christie’s a New York — L’asta Maharajas & Mughal Magnificence organizzata da Christie’s a New York

Il diamante The Mirror of Paradise, 52,58 carati, D Color, IF, venduto per 6,5 milioni

Smeraldo scolpito con due montanti intercambiabili e diamanti di Cartier

Aigrette di diamanti e smalti di Mellerio dit Mellerio, venduto per 650.000 dollari

Fibbia per cintura di di Cartier con smeraldo, zaffiri e diamanti, Venduta per 1,5 milioni

Ornamento per turbante venduto per 1,8 milioni

Al Thani jewelry in Venice

Published on August 26, 2017

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Ornamento per turbante, Hyderabad, 1800-1850. Set di diamanti, perle e spinello

In Venice an exhposition with 270 vintage Indian jewels from the Al Thani collection ♦︎
Jewelery in a jewel city: in Venice comes the Al Thani collection. Exposed first in London and then in Paris, for the first time he is in Italy. It is a collection of ancient Indian or vintage jewels. Starting from 1500 up to the last century: there are 270 outstanding pieces that will be visible at Palazzo Ducale. To set this outstanding collection was Sheikh Hamad bin Abdullah Al Thani, a member of the royal Qatar family: he fell in love with years of Indian goldsmith tradition, especially that of the Moghul period and has collected these pieces which are a sum of history of the high Indian jewelery, from Genghis Khan and Tamerlan to the maharaja in the colonial period. They are ornamental jewels, but also symbolic: they were used to mark the rank, role and even mood of the wearer, man or woman. In addition to being indispensable accessories for some occasions, such as ceremonies.
The exhibition is curated by Amin Jaffer, conservative chief of the Al Thani collection and Gian Carlo Calza, a Far East art scholar, with Gabriella Belli’s scientific management. The exhibition begins on 9 September 2017 and continues until 7 January 2018. Federico Graglia
The Al Thani collection
Venice, Palazzo Ducale
September 9, 2017 – January 7, 2018
Hours: 8.30-19
Tickets
Full 20 euros; Reduced by 13 euros

Coppia di bracciali Kada da Bhagat, 2012, perle diamanti e platino

Ornamento per turbante del Maharaja di Nawanagar, circa 1907

Spilla a forma di pavone di Mellerio Meller, 1901, diamanti e oro

Girocollo di Cartiercon rubini del 1931. Restaurato dal progetto originale

Spilla di Cartier, 2012, in platino, smeraldi e diamanti

Spilla Cintura di Cartier, intorno al 1920-1930

Spilla da Bhagat, 2011. Platino, con diamanti, rubini, perle

The collection Al Thani in Paris

Published on April 3, 2017

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Agra, diamante rosa di 28.15 carati, che secondo la leggenda sarebbe stato offerto al Mughal Babur, fondatore dell'impero Moghul, quando ha conquistato la città di Agra, nel 1526

The great collection of Indian jewelry by Al Thani arrives in Paris, at Grand Palais.
The jewels of Sheikh Hamad bin Abdullah Al Thani, cousin of the Emir of Qatar, are arriving in Paris. After the exhibition in London, now even the people who go to the French capital can admire the pieces of the collection, centered particularly on the jewels of Indian origin, those of the mughal and maharajas.
A passion that was born in 2009, after Al Thani visited the Victoria & Albert Museum, where it was an ongoing an exhibition of jewels in past owned by Indian princes. And to think that in India Al Thani had never been there. But a powerfull bank account can solves everything: in five years the sheik has collected 400 pieces (in this exhibition there are 270): from imperial jewels to daggers, rings or decoration for turbans.
Now her jewelry will be on display at the Grand Palais, in an exhibition entitled Des grands moghols aux maharajahs (From the great Mughal to Maharaja: Indian jewels of the collection Al Thani). If you like the opulence, wealth, decorations, it is the show for you.

India is the birthplace of the great jewels, as well as the large precious stones. A story that perhaps begins in 1526, when Babur, a descendant of Genghis Khan, conquered Delhi and was proclaimed the first Mughal emperor: an Islamic dynasty that ruled over India for more than three centuries. The pure diamonds of Golconda, one of the Hyderabad region, have encouraged a passion for the great jewels. Because for the maharaja, each gem brought with it a part of divine energy, karma, which strengthens the wearer. In particular, were nine auspicious stones: ruby, topaz, cat’s eye, emerald, diamond, coral, pearls, yellow and blue sapphires.
And with the domination Mughal born the kundan technique, a type of seam that uses pure 24 carat gold. It went like this: you had to heat the gold to 200 degrees centigrade. thin metal strips were wrapped around a stone previously placed on wax cavity. To obtain a good result they wanted instinct and speed. You can see the result at Grand Palais.
Des grands Moghols aux Maharajahs
29 March – June 2017
Paris, Grand Palais, Salon d’Honneur
Open every day from 10 to 20h. Wednesday until 22h.
Closed on Tuesdays and May 1
Ticket: 13 or 9 € (16-25 years old, unemployed, large families).
Free for children under 16
Information and reservations www.grandpalais.frù

Bracciale con smalti traslucidi rossi e verde, tipico di Jaipur. Circa 1750

Spilla in platino con smeraldi e diamanti

Spilla per cappello con diamanti e rubini

Gioiello per Turbante del 19esimo secolo, Jaipur o Hyderabad, in oro, argento e diamanti e spinelli, con ciondolo smaltato

Collezione Al Thani, spilla per turbante con perle e diamanti

Turban (sarpesh). India del Sud, probabilmente Hyderabad. Set in oro con smeraldi e diamanti

Al Thani jewelry on exhibition

Published on November 2, 2015

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Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani is not only one of the richest men in the world, besides being the caliph of Qatar. It is also a collector of art and, many people don’t knows, of jewelry. Of course, not any jewelry, but of rare and precious brooches that belonged to Indian maharajas, or refined period pieces signed by Cartier or other by Maison that are on Olympus of jewellery. The good news is that now this very special collection of jewelry will be shown to the public from 21 November until 28 March 2016 to the Victoria and Albert Museum in London. The exhibition includes spectacular pieces: exotic Mughal jades, or a rare pinnacle gold from the throne of Tipu Sultan, pieces that reveal profound changes that have taken place in the Indian jewelry design during the early 20th century. But the exhibition will also consider the influence that India has had on the jewels of European avant-garde, for example, on Cartier to contemporary pieces made by Jar and Bhagat, who are inspired by a creative fusion of reasons including those of the era Mughal and Art Deco.
Victoria and Albert Museum
10:00 to 17:45 every day
from 10.00 to 22.00 Friday (gallery openings reduced after 18:00)
Closed on 24, 25 and 26 December
Tickets: £ 10