A diamond- and ruby-set gold sarpech formerly the property of the Maharaja of Patiala, Bhupinder Singh, Punjab, circa 1910, set with 133 diamonds, 15 Burmese rubies and a large natural pearl, in three parts; the detachable fan-shaped spray with five branches each terminating in a round faceted ruby with a further ruby set in the middle of the central branch, the branches set with a further 29 brilliant-cut diamonds in star, leaf and floral patterns, the central section consists of eight horseshoe-shaped elements each set a central oval ruby flanked by three round diamonds, each element facing inwards towards a raised floral centre made with sixteen petals each set with three round diamonds and with eight further diamonds spaced along the outside of the rosette, to the centre of the rosette is a large (circa .5 carat), faceted ruby; a large pear-shaped natural pearl, drilled and mounted on gold wire is suspended from the lowest point of the central ornament, 13.8cm high, without pearl 11.4cm. high; pearl 2.3cm; weight 85.5 grams; spray 13.9 grams, central broach 71.6 grams Provenance: Commissioned by Maharaja Bhupinder Singh (1891-1938) and inherited by his son Maharaja Yadavindra Singh (1913-1974) the last Maharaja of Patiala. During a stay at the Taj Mahal Hotel in Bombay in the 1940s, Maharaja Yadavindra Singh sold the sarpech to the Gazdar's Jewellers, the luxury jewellery firm in the arcade of the hotel from whom the current vendor purchased it. Published: Content, D.J., Ruby, Sapphire & Spinel: An Archaeological, Textual and Cultural Study, Brepols Publishers, Turnhout Belgium, 2016, no. 93 Maharaja Bhupinder Singh (1891-1938) ruled the state of Patiala from 1900-1938. Well known for his love of luxury and extravagant lifestyle, he inherited from his father some of the most fabulous jewels of the time including the De Beers yellow diamond of over 234 carats, later mounted by Cartier in the famous Patiala Necklace which cost $25 million in 1926. The Christie's New York sale of Sheikh Al-Thani's collection of jewellery and jewelled objects from India, Maharajas and Mughal Magnificence, included part of another famous ruby, diamond and pearl necklace that Cartier produced for the Maharaja and considered by the firm to be one of the most important necklaces ever made (Christie's New York, June 19th, 2019, Lot 272). Please refer to department for condition report