Nabanita Sircar
London, April 28


Rare Mughal treasures that were brought to Britain from India by Robert Clive, were sold for £4.7 million on Tuesday, by Clive's descendants at an auction at Christie's in London.

The collection sold for more than three times Christie's estimate. A 17th century jewelled flask fetched the maximum price. An anonymous bidder paid more than £2.9 million for the piece which, until recently was on display at the Victoria & Albert Museum in London.

The flask which was once part of the collection at the imperial court in Delhi, was believed to have been looted from the Mughal emperor Muhammad Shah by Nadir Shah. There is, however, no record of how the object came to be with Clive of India. Some believe it may have been booty after his victory over Siraj-ud Daulah, Nawab of Bengal, at Plassey. The new Nawab, Mir Jaffir, invited the British commander to take what he wanted from his treasury.

Among the other treasures auctioned was a fly whisk made from banded agate and inset with rubies, which had been expected to sell for only £5,000 to £8,000, went for 113 times its upper estimate at £901,250.

A dagger with a pistol-grip hilt inlaid with rubies, emeralds and diamonds, which had been estimated at £35,000 to £50,000, sold for £733,250, and a huqqa set decorated with sapphires was bought for £94,850.

Clive's descendants still own some works of art acquired by him in India.

http://www.hindustantimes.com/news/5983_717935,00430005.htm