A NATURAL PEARL AND DIAMOND NECKLACE, CARTIER

Details

A NATURAL PEARL AND DIAMOND NECKLACE, CARTIER
A graduated strand of thirty-seven round to oval natural pearls of 14.00 to 7.05 mm, old-cut marquise-shaped diamond, platinum (French marks), 15 ¼ ins., unsigned, partial maker's mark, red Cartier soft case
SSEF, 2016, report no. 85153: 37 natural pearls, saltwater, with Appendix letter attesting to the 'extraordinary characteristics' of the necklace

Provenance

By repute, Rajmata Gayatri Devi of Jaipur

Exhibited

Grand Palais, Paris 2017, p. 331, no. 246
The Doge’s Palace, Venice 2017, p. 343, no. 239
The Palace Museum, Beijing 2018, p. 352, no. 243
de Young Legion of Honor, San Francisco 2018, p. 184, no. 148

Brought to you by

Rahul Kadakia

rkadakia@christies.com +1 212 636 2300

Lot Essay

This natural pearl and diamond necklace reputedly belonged to Rajmata Gayatri Devi, wife of Maharaja Sawai Man Singh II of Jaipur. She was considered to be among the most beautiful women in the world and often traveled between India and Europe. Usually seen in a colorful chiffon sari and a string of pearls, the Rajmata was politically active, especially passionate about women's rights. After India's Independence, she had a landslide victory and was elected to the Lower House of India's bicameral Parliament in 1962.

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