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The Property of a Gentleman:
Maharaja of Patiala's Dinner Service Can Now Be Yours!

SIKH MEDIA SERVICE

 

 

 

The Maharaja of Patiala’s banqueting service, commissioned by the Maharaja in honour of a tour of India in 1922 by Prince Edward, Prince of Wales -- later King Edward VIII and then Duke of Windsor -- is to be auctioned by Christie’s at King Street, London, United Kingdom, on July 4, 2013.

The property being put on the auction block gives an insight into the Maharaja’s lavish lifestyle.

The value of the dinner service is estimated at £1 million – 1.5 million. That’s $1,536,000 - $2,304,000.

This extensive George V silver-gilt dinner-service comprises over 1,400 pieces.

The Sikh Maharaja’s wealth and status was such that he was the first man in India to own an aircraft, for which the Patiala Aviation Club was founded.

As well, he and his wife patronised some of the leading makers in the world, such as Cartier, whom they commissioned to mount the De Beers diamond as the centrepiece of the magnificent ‘Patiala Necklace’.

The Maharaja was also an avid and early motorcar enthusiast; indeed legend has it that he would travel in a motorcade of 20 Rolls Royces. However, in 1930 he had a falling out with Rolls Royce who he felt slighted him by refusing to accept an order. Such was his power and influence in India that a campaign by him forced the Viceroy to pressure Rolls Royce to change their decision.

Before you rush out to bid for the set, you need to ensure that you have room at home to display, or - at the very least -- store the pieces. Over 1400 of them.

If you’re still interested, here are the details:

THE MAHARAJA OF PATIALA'S BANQUETING-SERVICE. AN EXTENSIVE GEORGE V SILVER-GILT DINNER-SERVICE. MARK OF THE GOLDSMITHS' AND SILVERSMITHS' COMPANY, LONDON, 1921.

Each piece with a scroll and foliage border above cast and chased panels of animals, separated by cast daggers, variously engraved or cast with coat-of-arms, crown and initials. Comprising …

a)  A Centrepiece. Formed as three bowls supported on shaped conforming stand, the flower and foliage decorated feet applied with cast elephant's mask, the handles of the bowls with cast lion's masks, marked under bowls and under stand. the stand 45 in. (114.5 cm.) wide. 710 oz. (22,103 gr.). . b.). A Set of Four Five-Light Candelabra. Each on four lion's paw feet, the stands applied with cast elephant masks, each marked on foot, on central socket and on nozzles. 26 in. (66 cm.) high. gross weight 883 oz. (27,470 gr.). . c.). A Pair of Soup-Tureens, Covers and Ladles. With lion's mask-capped handles, the detachable covers with quatrefoil ogee loop handles, marked under base, on handle and on cover bezel 17¾ in. (45 cm.) wide over handles. 306 oz. (9,522 gr.). . d.). Two Centrepiece-Bowls. Each oval and with lion's mask-capped handles and on four lion's paw feet, each marked underneath. 21½ in. (55 cm.) wide and slightly smaller. 313 oz. (9,742 gr.). . e.). A Set of Four Centrepiece-Bowls. Each circular, with spreading foot and on four lion's paw feet, each marked underneath. 10½ in. (26.5 cm.) diam. 149 oz. (4,633 gr.). . f.). A Set of Four Bowls. Each oval with lion's mask handles, the conforming base on four lion's paw feet, each marked underneath. 14½ in. (37 cm.) wide. 145 oz. (4,504 gr.). . g.). A Pair of Bowls. Each oval with lion's mask handles and conforming base, each marked underneath. 14¾ in. (37.5 cm.) wide. 67 oz. (2,075 gr.). . h.). A Set of Three Meat-Dish Covers. Each oval with a quatrefoil ogee loop handle, each marked on top and under handle. 14 in. (35.5 cm.) wide. 158 oz. (4,900 gr.). . i.). A Set of Four Baskets. Each shell-shaped with openwork sides and on three lion's paw feet, with rising lion's mask-capped scroll handles, the back applied with cast elephant mask, each marked near border. 10¼ in. (26 cm.) wide. 131 oz. (4086 gr.). . j.). A Set of Twenty Sauceboats and Twenty Sauce-Ladles. Each oval double-lipped on conforming foot, the scroll handles incorporating cast lion's masks, each marked underneath. 8 in. (20.5 cm.) wide. 460 oz. (14,293 gr.). . k.). A Set of Eleven Entrée-Dishes and Covers. Each circular with two lion's mask-capped scroll handles, the detachable covers with quatrefoil ogee-loop handles, five with detachable tripartite part-pierced dividers, with a further cover and handle each marked underneath, inside cover and on handle. 12 in. (30.6 cm.) wide over handles. 677 oz. (21,069 gr.). . l.). A Set of Six Entrée-Dishes and Covers. Each oval, three with conforming quatrefoil ogee loop handles, three handles lacking, each marked underneath. 12½ in. (31.5 cm.) wide. 353 oz. (10,981 gr.). . m.). A Set of Thirty-Seven Soup-Plates. Each shaped circular, the border cast with animals in medallions surrounded by flowers, further cast with initials and a crown, each marked underneath. 9½ in. (24 cm.) diam. 725 oz. (22,542 gr.). . n.). A Set of One Hundred Forty-Eight Dessert-Plates. Each shaped circular, the border cast with animals in medallions surrounded by flowers, further cast with initials and a crown, each marked underneath. 8¼ in. (21 cm.) diam. 1,840 oz. (57,239 gr.). . o.). One Hundred Eighty-Three Dinner-Plates. Each shaped circular, the border cast with animals in medallions surrounded by flowers, further cast with initials and a crown, each marked underneath. 9¾ in. (24.5 cm.) diam. 3,575 oz. (110,194 gr.). . p.). A Set of Six Meat-Dishes. Each shaped oval, the border cast with animals in medallions surrounded by flowers, further cast with initials and a crown, each marked on the back. 19½ in. (50 cm.) wide. 359 oz. (11,149 gr.). . q.). A Set of Twelve Meat-Dishes. Each shaped oval, the border cast with animals in medallions surrounded by flowers, further cast with initials and a crown, each marked on the back. 18 in. (45.6 cm.) wide. 743 oz. (23,123 gr.). . r.). A Set of Six Meat-Dishes. Each shaped oblong, the border cast with animals in medallions surrounded by flowers, further cast with initials and a crown, each marked on the back. 15½ in. (39.2 cm.) wide. 266 oz. (8,271 gr.). . s.). A Set of Three Fish-Dishes and Three Mazarines. Each shaped oval, the border cast with animals in medallions surrounded by flowers, further cast with initials and a crown, each fitted with a conforming detachable mazarine, each marked on the back. 26 in. (66 cm.) wide. 429 oz. (13,328 gr.). . t.). A Set of Six Deep Second-Course Dishes. Each shaped circular, the border cast with animals in medallions surrounded by flowers, further cast with initials and a crown, each marked on the back. 14¼ in. (36 cm.) diam. 314 oz. (9,760 gr.). . u.). A Set of Three Salvers. Each shaped circular, the border cast with animals in medallions surrounded by flowers, further cast with initials and a crown, each marked on the back. 18¾ in. (47.7 cm.) diam. 312 oz. (7,718 gr.). . v.). A Set of Six Salvers. Each shaped circular, the border cast with animals in medallions surrounded by flowers, further cast with initials and a crown, each marked on the back. 14¾ in. (37 cm.) wide. 345 oz. (10,729 gr.). . w.). Three Coffee-Pots. Each tapering cylindrical and on circular spreading foot with scrolling ivory-insulated leaf-capped handle, the hinged cover with bud finial, each marked below handle, inside cover and on handle. 9¾ in. (24.8 cm.) high. gross weight 86 oz. (2,682 gr.). . x.). Three Hot-Water Jugs. Each tapering cylindrical and on circular spreading foot with ogee-formed spout and ivory-insulated scrolling leaf-capped handle, the hinged cover with bud finial, each marked below handle, inside cover and on handle. 10 in. (25.3 cm.) high. 82 oz. (2,548 gr.). . y.). Three Sugar-Bowls and Three Pairs of Sugar-Tongs. Each on circular spreading foot with lion mask-capped scrolling handles, each marked underneath. 7½ in. (19 cm.) wide over handles. 39 oz. (1,208 gr.). . z.). A Set of Eighteen Mustard-Pots and Eighteen Mustard-Spoons. Each on circular spreading foot with lion mask-capped scrolling handles, the hinged cover with bud finial, each marked underneath and inside cover. 4 1/8 in. (10.4 cm.) high. 148 oz. (4,580 gr.). . aa.). A Set of Eighteen Salt-Cellars and Eighteen Salt-Spoons. Each circular on spreading foot, each with a salt-spoon, each marked underneath. 3 1/8 in. (8 cm.) diam. 103 oz. (3,308 gr.). . ab.). A Set of Eighteen Pepperettes. Each vase-shaped on spreading foot, the detachable cover with bud finial, each marked near rim and on cover bezel. 4¾ in. (12 cm.) high. 54 oz. (1,671 gr.). . ac.). Forty-Three Finger-Bowls. Each circular on conforming base, each marked underneath. 4 5/8 in. (11.6 cm.) diam. 311 oz. (9,658 gr.). . ad.). A Set of Six Sugar-Casters. Each vase shaped on spreading foot, the detachable cover pierced and with bud finial, each marked underneath and on cover bezel. 7¼ in. (18.5 cm) high. 58 oz. (1,790 gr.). . ae.). Two Cruet-Stands. Each boat-shaped with rising lion mask-capped scroll ends and on four lion's paw feet, with quatrefoil ogee loop handle, bottles lacking, each marked underneath. 8½ in. (21 cm.) wide. 44 oz. (1,373 gr.). . af.). A Set of Twelve Almond-Dishes. Each shaped oval and on four paw feet, the border cast with animals in medallions surrounded by flowers, further cast with initials and a crown, each marked on the back. 7½ in. (19 cm.) wide. 79 oz. (2,456 gr.). . ag.). A Table-Service. Each piece with a scroll and foliage and border and decorated with a palmette, die-stamped with a cypher below a crown on one side and either a coat-of-arms or an elephant on the other, comprising. . One-hundred and sixty six table-forks. One-hundred and eleven dessert-forks. One-hundred and eleven dessert-spoons. Twenty-one table-spoons. Thirty-seven soup-spoons. Thirty-seven coffee-spoons. Six pairs of salad-servers. Two pairs of fish-servers. Six pairs of asparagus-tongs. Six ginger-spoons. Three pairs of grape-scissors. Six spoons with shell shaped bowls. and the following with filled handles. One-hundred and seven table-knives with steel blades. Seventy-four cheese-knives with steel blades. Thirty-seven fruit-knives with silver-gilt blades. Thirty-seven fruit-forks with silver-gilt tines. Thirty-seven fish-knives with silver-gilt blades. Thirty-seven fish-forks with silver-gilt tines. Three melon-knives with silver-gilt blades. Three melon-forks with silver-gilt blades.

Total weighable silver: 15,547 oz. (482,572 gr.).

Still interested?

Good luck with the bidding!


[Info, courtesy: Christie's]

June 25, 2013

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Maharaja of Patiala's Dinner Service Can Now Be Yours!"









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