Baroda Pearls & Sita Devi
The legendary Baroda pearls is one of the most important natural pearl necklace strands, (originally seven strands) in the world and was among the Baroda treasury that dated back to Mughal times. In 1943, Maharaja Pratapsingh Gaekwar made headlines by marrying Sita Devi, his second wife. Western media referred to her as the Indian equivalent of Wallis Simpson. Devi went on to become one of the most flamboyant maharanis of all time, known for her passion for fine Indian Jewelry and the Maharaja being madly in love with her, quite literally, cast his pearls before her - the Baroda pearls. Upon marrying the maharaja, Sita Devi received the Famous Collection of jewelry and objects from the Baroda treasury which included the extraordinary textile, the famous bejeweled Pearl carpet of Baroda, circa 1865-70, originally commissioned as a gift for the tomb of the Prophet Muhammad (auctioned by Sothbey's in Doha, March 2009).
While many of Sita Devi's jewels were sold in Monaco in later years, the seven-strand pearl necklace remained a part of the Baroda royal treasury. To find out about Russia's Imperial treasury and the Kremlin's Diamond Fund Collection turn HERE. The Baroda Pearl necklace strand is the historic two-strand Natural Pearl necklace of sixty-eight graduated pearls, measuring approximately 9.47-16.04 mm, with a diamond clasp by Cartier. The fourth, fifth, sixth and seventh strands of the world-renowned seven-strand Baroda necklace, a brooch and a ring en suite, set a world auction record of $7,096,000 in April, 2007, in New York. The Maharajah of Baroda, was the most influential of the all the Indian princes and exemplified a princely state of mind, attracted not only to little pearls but also to precious gemstones and Gold in India. His court tunic was spun of gold, with only one family in his state allowed to weave its threads. The family's fingernails were grown long and then notched like the teeth of a comb, all the better to caress the golden threads to perfection.
For certain, the Maharaja of Baroda thoroughly enjoyed his royal joules and was not hesitant to caste his pearls before the woman he adored most - Sita Deva! Pearl necklaces of such important size, quality, signature and provenance rarely appear on the market. In November 1999, Christie's Geneva sold a single-strand pearl necklace, which belonged to Marie-Antoinette, Princess of Hungary and Bohemia, Archduchess of Austria and Queen of France, and later by the American Woolworth heiress Barbara Hutton. Comprising forty-one graduated pearls, measuring approximately 8.50 to 16.35 mm, this superb single-strand necklace sold for a then world record of $1,450,000. Five years later in November 2004, Christie's Geneva offered a two-strand pearl necklace--double the number of pearls and equal in size to the Marie Antoinette/Hutton necklace--which sold for $3,128,520.source:christies Reference: http://www.royal-magazin.de/india/baroda-pearls-perlen-maharadscha.htm Return to the top of Baroda Pearls Return to Natural Pearls Return to Antique Jewelry Investor Home Page
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