Jaipur jewellery heads to London

Nearly 250 pieces of exquisite treasures from Jaipur's Gem Palace will be on display at an exhibition at the Somerset House here from Sep 28 to Oct 22.

The pieces are described as rare examples of traditional Indian jewellery. Many of them were made as special one-off commissions. They will be on display in the Gilbert Collection of Somerset House.

Amongst the dazzling jewels on show will be gold and enamelled chandelier earrings, cabochon rings, delicate bracelets, beaded necklaces studded with diamonds, emeralds, sapphires and rubies, as well as jewelled objets d'art set with precious and semi-precious stones.

There will also be a specially designed shop selling a selection of Gem Palace jewellery, official sources here said. Prices in the Gem Palace shop will start from 500 pounds.

The Kasliwal family, whose ancestors were jewellers to the Mughul emperors, established the Gem Palace in 1852 and to this day has been producing breathtaking pieces worn most recently at the Academy Awards in Los Angeles by Amber Valletta and Mira Sorvino.

Past admirers of the Gem Palace have included Countess Mountbatten of Burma, Jackie Onassis, and Diana, princess of Wales. Present-day admirers include Nicole Kidman, Mick Jagger, Giorgio Armani, Arun Nayar, and Ashley and Allegra Hicks.

The Gilbert Collection of decorative arts comprises some 800 works of art formed over 35 years by the late Sir Arthur Gilbert. Magnificent European silver, spectacular gold snuffboxes, and remarkable Italian mosaics are some of the treasures on permanent display.

The Gem Palace exhibition has been organised by Harry Fane, who is recognised as the foremost authority on vintage Cartier. Fane has been going to India for many years, due to the strong connections between Cartier and the Indian sub-continent.

During these trips, Fane formed a close bond with the Kasliwal family and it has long been his ambition to bring the Gem Palace to London. A specially designed illustrated catalogue with an introduction by Maharani Gayatri Devi, the erstwhile queen of Jaipur, will accompany the exhibition.