Was Christie’s Maharajas & Mughal Magnificence sale the auction of the century it was announced to be? Realizing $109 million, the June 19 sale in New York earned the highest total of any auction featuring Indian art. But it ranks only second-highest for a private jewelry collection (it came from the Al Thani dynasty, the ruling family of Qatar). The record for a private collection belongs to The Legendary Jewels — Elizabeth Taylor’s personal trove — which garnered $115.9 million in 2011. Overall, Christie’s sold 93% of the lots on offer. Here are some highlights:
Image: Christie’s images LTD. 2019Article from the Rapaport Magazine - August 2019. To subscribe click here.