Sotheby's To Sell The Pearl Canopy Of Baroda on 24 March in New York
On 24 March 2011, Sotheby’s New York will present The Pearl Canopy Of Baroda, one of the most luxuriant works of art ever created.
The magnificent bejeweled canopy, which will be offered in the Indian & Southeast Asian Works of Art auction, is one of the highlights of Sotheby’s Asia week series of sales. The canopy is entirely embroidered with natural ‘Basra’ pearls and lush floral vines made up of coloured glass beads enhanced by diamonds, sapphires, rubies and emeralds. The number of ‘Basra’ pearls alone totals over 500,000. The work had been hidden from public view for over 100 years until it was included in the exhibition Maharaja: The Splendor of India’s Royal Courts at the Victoria and Albert Museum in London last year.
The canopy was commissioned by the Maharaja of Baroda, Khande Rao Gaekwar and was made circa 1865-70. It was created as part of an ensemble which included the famed Pearl Carpet of Baroda which was sold at Sotheby’s Doha in March 2009. The suite was originally made up of four rectangular bejeweled carpets and this circular canopy. Of the five pieces, only these two survive. The Pearl Canopy Of Baroda is estimated to fetch $3/5 million.
