T H E M A H A R A J A O F PAT I A L A S BANQUETING-SERVICE

T H E P R OP ERT Y O F A GE N TLE MA N

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AN EXTENSIVE GEORGE V SILVER-GILT DINNER-SERVICE
MARK OF THE GOLDSMITHS AND SILVERSMITHS COMPANY, LONDON, 1921 Each piece with a scroll and foliage border above cast and chased panels of animals, separated by cast daggers, variously engraved or cast with coat-of-arms, crown and initials Comprising: A centrepiece Four ve-light candelabra A pair of soup-tureens, covers and ladles Two oval centrepiece bowls Four circular centrepiece bowls Four oval bowls A pair of oval bowls Three meat-dish covers Four baskets Twenty sauceboats and ladles Eleven circular entre dishes and covers Six oval entre dishes and covers Thirty-seven soup-plates One hundred forty-eight dessert-plates One hundred eighty-three dinner-plates Six oval meat-dishes An eight hundred and fty two piece table-service Total gross weight of weighable silver 15,547 oz. (482,572 gr.) (1,521) Twelve oval meat-dishes Six oblong meat-dishes Three sh-dishes and mazarines Six deep second-course dishes Three circular salvers Six salvers Three coffee-pots Three hot-water jugs Three sugar bowls and tongs Eighteen mustard-pots and spoons Eighteen salt-cellars and spoons Eighteen pepperettes Forty-three nger-bowls Six sugar-casters Two cruet-stands Twelve almond-dishes

1,000,000-1,500,000
PROVENANCE:

US$1,600,000-2,300,000 1,200,000-1,700,000

Commissioned by the Maharaja of Patiala in honour of a tour of India by Prince Edward, Prince of Wales, later King Edward VIII and Duke of Windsor, in 1922 and used at the State Banquet held in the Princes honour on 24 February 1922. Maharaja Bhupinder Singh of Patiala (1891-1938). Anonymous sale; Sothebys, Belgravia, 15 December 1977, lot 256.
LITERATURE:

J. Culme, The Directory of Gold and Silversmiths Jewellers and Allied Traders 1838-1914, From the London Assay Ofce Registers, Woodbridge, 1987, vol. I, p. 184.

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Sir Bhupindra Singh, Maharaja of Patiala National Portrait Gallery, London

MAHARAJA BHUPINDER SINGH OF PATIALA Maharaja Bhupinder Singh of Patiala (1891-1938) was born at Moti Bagh Palace and educated at Aitchison College. On the death of his father, Maharaja Rajinder Singh, on 9 November 1900 he succeeded as Maharaja of Patiala, though a Council of Regency ruled in his name until he took partial powers shortly before his 18th birthday on 1 October 1909, and was invested with full powers by the Viceroy of India, the 4th Earl of Minto, on 3 November 1910. Singh was actively involved in Indian politics and in representing India on the world stage, for example serving on the General Staff in France, Belgium, Italy and Palestine in the First World War as an Honorary Lieutenant-Colonel, later being promoted Honorary Major-General in 1918 and Honorary Lieutenant-General in 1931. He also represented India at the League of Nations in 1925, and was chancellor of the Indian Chamber of Princes for 10 years from 1926 until his death in 1938. He married ten times, having had 88 children by his wives and concubines. This extensive service gives an insight into the lavish lifestyle of the Maharaja. His wealth and status was such that he was the rst man in India to own an aircraft, for which the Patiala Aviation Club was founded. He and his wife patronised some of the leading makers in the world, such as Cartier, whom they commissioned to mount the De Beers diamond as the centrepiece of the magnicent Patiala Necklace. Singh was also an avid and early motorcar enthusiast, indeed legend has it that he would travel in a motorcade of 20 Rolls Royces, however in 1930 he had a falling out with

Rolls Royce who he felt slighted him by refusing to accept an order. Such was his power and inuence in India that a campaign by him forced the Viceroy to pressure Rolls Royce to change their decision. Singh was also an avid and talented cricketer, with him acting as captain of the Indian cricket team that visited England 1911 and again in 1932, although he was forced to drop out of the second tour for health reasons. EDWARD, PRINCE OF WALES VISIT TO PATIALA The Prince travelled to Patiala by train arriving at 8.30 am on the morning of the 22nd February. He was met by the Maharaja and a large reception party, the royal suite was then escorted by the State cavalry to the Moti Bagh Palace through streets lined with people. The Times report at the time commented on the scene, ...the road, with its lavish decorations, its elephants, and its gaily dressed throngs, was most picturesque. On his arrival at the palace the Prince reviewed the troops and then, accompanied by the Maharaja, ventured out on his horse into the huge crowd with include some 10,000 former soldiers who had served in the First World War. This part of the Princes tour was partly intended as a restful time for the Prince and after the review there was no ofcial timetable. The Maharaja entertained the Prince with polo matches, pig-sticking, and shooting. The dinners were small and the dances informal. Only on the last evening was a large event held. The State Banquet for 200 people, for which this dinner service was commissioned, was a lavish send off for the Royal guest who departed for Lahore by train at 11.00 that evening, following the dinner.

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a.) A Centrepiece Formed as three bowls supported on shaped conforming stand, the ower and foliage decorated feet applied with cast elephants mask, the handles of the bowls with cast lions masks, marked under bowls and under stand the stand 45 in. (114.5 cm.) wide 710 oz. (22,103 gr.) b.) A Set of Four Five-Light Candelabra Each on four lions paw feet, the stands applied with cast elephant masks, each marked on foot, on central socket and on nozzles 26 in. (66 cm.) high gross weight 883 oz. (27,470 gr.) c.) A Pair of Soup-Tureens, Covers and Ladles With lions mask-capped handles, the detachable covers with quatrefoil ogee loop handles, marked under base, on handle and on cover bezel 17 in. (45 cm.) wide over handles 306 oz. (9,522 gr.) d.) Two Centrepiece-Bowls Each oval and with lions mask-capped handles and on four lions paw feet, each marked underneath 21 in. (55 cm.) wide and slightly smaller 313 oz. (9,742 gr.)

e.) A Set of Four Centrepiece-Bowls Each circular, with spreading foot and on four lions paw feet, each marked underneath 10 in. (26.5 cm.) diam. 149 oz. (4,633 gr.)

f.) A Set of Four Bowls Each oval with lions mask handles, the base on four lions paw feet, each marked underneath 14 in. (37 cm.) wide 145 oz. (4,504 gr.)

g.) A Pair of Bowls Each oval with lions mask handles and conforming base, each marked underneath 14 in. (37.5 cm.) wide 67 oz. (2,075 gr.)

h.) A Set of Three Meat-Dish Covers Each oval with a quatrefoil ogee loop handle, each marked on top and under handle 14 in. (35.5 cm.) wide 158 oz. (4,900 gr.)

i.) A Set of Four Baskets Each openwork shell-shaped, on lions paw feet, with lions mask-capped handles, applied with cast elephant mask, each marked near border 10 in. (26 cm.) wide 131 oz. (4086 gr.)

j.) A Set of Twenty Sauceboats and Sauce-Ladles Each oval double-lipped on conforming foot, the scroll handles incorporating cast lions masks, each marked underneath 8 in. (20.5 cm.) wide 460 oz. (14,293 gr.)

k.) A Set of Eleven Entre-Dishes and Covers Each circular with two lions mask-capped scroll handles, the detachable covers with quatrefoil ogee-loop handles, ve with detachable tripartite partpierced dividers, with a further cover and handle each marked underneath, inside cover and on handle 12 in. (30.6 cm.) wide over handles 677 oz. (21,069 gr.)

l.) A Set of Six Entre-Dishes and Covers Each oval, three with conforming quatrefoil ogee loop handles, three handles lacking, each marked underneath 12 in. (31.5 cm.) wide 353 oz. (10,981 gr.)

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m.) A Set of Thirty-Seven Soup-Plates Each shaped circular, the border cast with animals in medallions surrounded by owers, further cast with initials and a crown, each marked underneath 9 in. (24 cm.) diam. 725 oz. (22,542 gr.)

n.) A Set of One Hundred Forty-Eight Dessert-Plates Each shaped circular, the border cast with animals in medallions surrounded by owers, further cast with initials and a crown, each marked underneath 8 in. (21 cm.) diam. 1,840 oz. (57,239 gr.)

o.) One Hundred Eighty-Three Dinner-Plates, Each shaped circular, the border cast with animals in medallions surrounded by owers, further cast with initials and a crown, each marked underneath 9 in. (24.5 cm.) diam. 3,575 oz. (110,194 gr.)

p.) A Set of Six Meat-Dishes Each shaped oval, the border cast with animals in medallions surrounded by owers, further cast with initials and a crown, each marked on the back 19 in. (50 cm.) wide 359 oz. (11,149 gr.)

q.) A Set of Twelve Meat-Dishes Each shaped oval, the border cast with animals in medallions surrounded by owers, further cast with initials and a crown, each marked on the back 18 in. (45.6 cm.) wide 743 oz. (23,123 gr.)

r.) A Set of Six Meat-Dishes Each shaped oblong, the border cast with animals in medallions surrounded by owers, further cast with initials and a crown, each marked on the back 15 in. (39.2 cm.) wide 266 oz. (8,271 gr.)

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s.) A Set of Three Fish-Dishes and Three Mazarines Each shaped oval, the border cast with animals in medallions surrounded by owers, further cast with initials and a crown, each tted with a conforming detachable mazarine, each marked on the back 26 in. (66 cm.) wide 429 oz. (13,328 gr.)

t.) A Set of Six Deep Second-Course Dishes Each shaped circular, the border cast with animals in medallions surrounded by owers, further cast with initials and a crown, each marked on the back 14 in. (36 cm.) diam. 314 oz. (9,760 gr.)

u.) A Set of Three Salvers Each shaped circular, the border cast with animals in medallions surrounded by owers, further cast with initials and a crown, each marked on the back 18 in. (47.7 cm.) diam. 312 oz. (7,718 gr.)

v.) A Set of Six Salvers Each shaped circular, the border cast with animals in medallions surrounded by owers, further cast with initials and a crown, each marked on the back 14 in. (37 cm.) wide 345 oz. (10,729 gr.)

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w.) Three Part Coffee-Services Each tapering cylindrical on circular spreading base, comprising: three coffeepots, three hot-water jugs, three sugar bowls and three pairs of sugar tongs the coffee-pots 9 in. (24.8 cm.) high gross weight 207 oz. (6,438 gr.)

x.) Three Condiment-Sets Each on spreading foot, comprising: eighteen mustard-pots and spoons; eighteen pepperettes and eighteen salt-cellars and spoons the pepperettes 4 in. (12 cm.) high 305 oz. (9,559 gr.)

y.) Forty-Three Finger-Bowls Each circular on conforming base, each marked underneath 4 in. (11.6 cm.) diam. 311 oz. (9,658 gr.)

z.) A Set of Six Sugar-Casters Each vase shaped on spreading foot, the detachable cover pierced and with bud nial, each marked underneath and on cover bezel 7 in. (18.5 cm) high 58 oz. (1,790 gr.)

aa.) Two Cruet-Stands Each boat-shaped with rising lion mask-capped scroll ends and on four lions paw feet, with quatrefoil ogee loop handle, bottles lacking, each marked underneath 8 in. (21 cm.) wide 44 oz. (1,373 gr.)

ab.) A Set of Twelve Almond-Dishes Each shaped oval and on four paw feet, the border cast with animals in medallions surrounded by owers, further cast with initials and a crown, each marked on the back 7 in. (19 cm.) wide 79 oz. (2,456 gr.)

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ac.) A Table-Service Each piece with a scroll and foliage and border and decorated with a palmette, die-stamped with a cypher below a crown on one side and either a coat-of-arms or an elephant on the other, comprising: One-hundred and sixty six table-forks One-hundred and eleven dessert-forks One-hundred and eleven dessert-spoons Twenty-one table-spoons Thirty-seven soup-spoons Thirty-seven coffee-spoons Six pairs of salad-servers Two pairs of sh-servers Six pairs of asparagus-tongs Six ginger-spoons Three pairs of grape-scissors Six spoons with shell shaped bowls and the following with lled handles One-hundred and seven table-knives with steel blades Seventy-four cheese-knives with steel blades Thirty-seven fruit-knives with silver-gilt blades Thirty-seven fruit-forks with silver-gilt tines Thirty-seven sh-knives with silver-gilt blades Thirty-seven sh-forks with silver-gilt tines Three melon-knives with silver-gilt blades Three melon-forks with silver-gilt blades

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