A 'THEWA' PARURE, PRATAPGARH, RAJASTHAN, INDIA, 19TH CENTURY |

comprising a necklace, a pair of earrings, a bracelet and a brooch, each piece worked with intricately designed and incised gold sheets depicting hunting scenes fused on green coloured glass

Previously in the collection of Maharajah Man Singh;
Gifted by him in 1878 to Patrick Carnegy (1825-1886) for his wife Isabella Butter then to her granddaughter;
Dame Beryl Oliver (1882-1972);
whose gift these were to her niece Lady Smith

In generally good condition, minor cracks to the glass and minor dents, as viewed.
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

Pratapgarh was a small Rajputana principality established by Raja Pratab Bhadur Singh in the seventeenth century. It is in this kingdom, which passed under British control in 1818, that the thewa technique developed in the second half of the eighteenth century. It remains the main distinctive feature of its jewellery production until today. The green glass surface of thewa pieces are decorated with gold tracery sheets representing usually mythical, religious or secular hunting scenes. The production of Pratapgarh jewellery flourished particularly in Victorian times, when they were exported to Europe as souvenirs, notably Britain. Parures like this one are rare as usually these are split over time or suffer condition issues due to the delicate nature of the material. This set is an example of the British taste for this peculiar technique. A similar thewa necklace is in the Victoria and Albert Museum, London, inv. no. 03083(IS).