.css-1sgivba{display:-webkit-box;display:-webkit-flex;display:-ms-flexbox;display:flex;-webkit-align-items:center;-webkit-box-align:center;-ms-flex-align:center;align-items:center;-webkit-flex-direction:row;-ms-flex-direction:row;flex-direction:row;gap:0.5rem;margin-bottom:var(--chakra-space-2);} .css-cosgki{font-size:16px;font-weight:var(--chakra-fontWeights-bold);} Product Type: Giclee Print Print Size: 9" x 12" Finished Size: 9" x 12" .css-1336n79{display:-webkit-box;display:-webkit-flex;display:-ms-flexbox;display:flex;-webkit-align-items:center;-webkit-box-align:center;-ms-flex-align:center;align-items:center;-webkit-flex-direction:row;-ms-flex-direction:row;flex-direction:row;gap:0.5rem;margin-top:var(--chakra-space-8);margin-bottom:var(--chakra-space-8);} Product ID: 55379888395A

Hungarian-Indian artist Amrita Sher-Gil was among the top-selling artists at “Boundless: Mumbai,” the inaugural sale for Sotheby's India.

The life story of unsung suffragette Sophia Duleep Singh, daughter of an exiled Punjabi maharajah, is skilfully told by Anita Anand, writes John Kampfner

With a never-ending list of designers like Chanel, Dior, Saint Laurent, Hermes, Louis Vuitton and countless others French designers having created some of the m

“BEAUTIFUL PRINCESS KARAM OF KAPURTHALA IN REBOUX’S TANGERINE VELVET HEAD-DRESS AND MAINBOCHER’S SILVER FOX CAPE” by André Durst (©Condé Nast) Imagine you’re a princess from…

Thrones, gems and weapons once belonging to India's Maharajas are to be exhibited at the V&A in London.

Intimate images of India's little-known queens and princesses from the families that once ruled large tracts of the country.

If you’re really looking to splurge on your next vacation, consider staying in one of these lavish accommodations

Maharajas! The word maharaja, literally ‘great king’, conjures up a vision of splendor and magnificence. These princely rulers of India played an important role within a social and historical context and were patrons of the arts, both in India and Europe. That resulted in magnificent objects symbo

Come with me this week to discover this superbly illustrated and highly collectible new volume about Bernard Boutet de Monvel (1881-1949), the chic portraitist, who in the twenties, thirties and forties, in Paris and New York and Palm Beach, captured the likenesses of café society. Bernard Boutet de Monvel was the portraitist of great beauties, their husbands, and their pretty children. Names and clans like Vanderbilt, Frick, Elsie de Wolfe, Millicent Rogers, Astor, Whitney, French nobles, the Maharaja and Maharani of Indore, and du Pont all posed in his studios. Now, with a highly successful recent Sotheby’s sale, and the publication of the superbly detailed new book, Bernard Boutet de Monvel is rediscovered. This is one of my favorite recent books—and an essential reference book for designers, artists, photographers and everyone drawn to this alluring and glamorous era. The text is detailed and informative. Images of his interiors and locations capture the elegant era with perfection. I first discovered the elusive Bernard Boutet de Monvel (that’s his portrait on the book cover, above) in the window of an art gallery along the quai Voltaire. I was heading to Sennelier to buy some watercolor paints when a gold-framed portrait of a woman in a white dress caught my eye. Static, motionless, timeless, the woman (his Chilean wife, Delfina, whom he painted many times) gazed out, perfection captured. I walked into the gallery and asked about it. ‘Bernard Boutet de Monvel’ the dealer said. Lady Plunkett (Aileen Guinness) in a gown by Cristóbal Balenciaga, oil on canvas, 92.5 x 42 cm, 1949. Private collection.© Sotheby's / Art Digital Studio, from Bernard Boutet de Monvel: At the Origins of Art Deco (Flammarion, 2016). Some years later, in a museum exhibit in London, I discovered Boutet de Monvel’s fantastic portrait of the Maharaja of Indore painted in 1933. Seated on a white ‘throne’ and resplendent in white cotton robes with just a dash of orange and gold handwoven silk, he is wearing the Indore pear-shaped diamonds, each 46 carats. It’s one of the great contemporary portraits, serene and subtle, and elegant. In April 2016 ,in Sotheby’s dramatic Paris sale of the artist’s estate—the stunning portrait of the Maharajah of Indore soared to €2.5 million ($2.9 million). Portrait of Boutet de Monvel, courtesy of Sotheby’s. About the Portrait Bernard Boutet de Monvel often painted himself from 1908 onward. In 1932, he painted two self-portraits for an exhibition at the Reinhardt Galleries in New York including Autoportrait, place Vendôme. In this strikingly elegant picture, reminiscent of the great Italian Renaissance portraits he admired so much, he presents himself as a genuine dandy in a room at the Ritz, where he often had lunch. Seated on a desk, the artist is holding his cane, cream gloves and hat, with the inevitable white daisy in his buttonhole. Through the window, it is possible to see the place Vendôme. Mrs. Millicent H. Rogers in a gown by Charles James, oil on canvas, 85 x 69 cm, 1949. Private collection.© Private Collection / Jacques Pépion, from Bernard Boutet de Monvel: At the Origins of Art Deco (Flammarion, 2016). Sotheby’s sale, April 5 and 6 in Paris this year, offered over 300 lots—of portraits, drawings, illustrations, prints, and furniture from the estate of Boutet de Monvel who died in 1949. “A star is reborn," said Sotheby’s. The sale restored the fabulous French artist to a prominent place among curators and galleries and international collectors. Coveted portraits, such as those of the artist’s wife and daughter (see below) drove the overall total of the sale to €9.3 million / $10.6 million (est. €1.8-2.8 million). This new book was published by Flammarion at the time of the sale. It is a fantastic and definitive illustration of a glamorous era before omnipresent iPhone portraiture, and a stylish record of interiors, décor and accomplished people of the period. Delfina Wearing a Feathered Toque by Jeanne Lanvin, oil on canvas and pencil, 35 x 32 cm, c. 1922. Private collection. © Sotheby's / Art Digital Studio, from Bernard Boutet de Monvel: At the Origins of Art Deco (Flammarion, 2016). Sylvie Boutet de Monvel, oil on canvas, 45 x 45 cm, October 1928. Private collection. © Private Collection / Jacques Pépion, from Bernard Boutet de Monvel: At the Origins of Art Deco (Flammarion, 2016). ABOVE: At Sotheby’s: Among exceptional portraits in the sale were intimate family paintings of Boutet de Monvel’s beautiful Anglo-Chilean wife, Delfina Edwards Bello and of their daughter, Sylvie. A portrait of Delfina wearing an ensemble by Pierre Piguet fetched €363,000 ($414,473), nine times the pre-sale low estimate (est. € 40,000 - 60,000). Mrs. John A. Vietor (Eleanor Emily Woodward), oil on canvas, 86.5 x 71.5 cm, 1937. Private collection. © Private Collection / Jacques Pépion, from Bernard Boutet de Monvel: At the Origins of Art Deco (Flammarion, 2016). The Story of Bernard Boutet de Monvel A painter, engraver, sculptor, decorator, as well as an illustrator for Vogue and Harper’s Bazaar, Boutet de Monvel was one of the most celebrated portraitists of his day, as well as a master of Art Deco and American Precisionism. His models included Prince Sixte de Bourbon-Parme, William Kissan Vanderbilt, Lady Plunkett, Frick, Whitney and Astor. With his unrivalled aesthetic sense, he featured them in a style close to hyperrealism, with a heightened attention for detail and technical perfection. He was described as "the handsomest man in Europe" by the American press. He turned beauty into a lifestyle, seeking perfection from his servants' uniforms to his young daughter's fringe of hair. He influenced a numerous artists after him, ranging from Andy Warhol to Robert Mapplethorpe. Rediscovered: The Significance of the Sotheby’s Sale Bernard Boutet de Monvel was highly admired in France and across the Atlantic during his lifetime. Yet until the publication of the large-format new Flammarion book and the Sotheby’s sale, his oeuvre and his life, worthy of a Fitzgerald novel, were little known. In Sotheby’s sale, eight works by the artist were acquired by French museums, including the Musée d’Orsay, the Musée d’Orléans, the Musée de Poitiers and the Musée franco-américain du Château de Blérancourt. Commenting on the sale, Pascale Pavageau, head of 19th century paintings and drawings, Sotheby’s Paris, said: “This landmark sale pays tribute to the immense talent and extraordinary personality of Bernard Boutet de Monvel. The remarkable results achieved place him as one of the most important French artists of the early-20th century.” Pierre Mothes, Vice-Chairman, Sotheby’s France said: “We are grateful to the family of the artist to have entrusted us with the sale of this iconic collection which was kept secret for so many years”. The Maharajah of Indore (a state of India located to the west of Mumbai) painted by Bernard Boutet de Monvel in 1933. Among my favorite works by Boutet de Monvel are a series of portraits he painted of the young Maharaja of Indore in 1933. The maharaja and his wife were living in Paris and surrounded artists and architects and fashion designers of the period. Boutet first painted the couple in evening dress. These paintings are now in a private collection. Portrait of the Maharani of Indore by Boutet de Monvel Those of you who follow THE STYLE SALONISTE may wish to link back to a story I wrote several years ago about a meeting with the son of the last Maharaja of Indore, Prince Richard Holkar. Richard Holkar, who graduated from Stanford, is the owner/director of Ahilya Fort hotel in Maheswar. He is also now directing Ahilya-by-the-Sea hotel in Goa. LINK HERE: www.thestylesaloniste.com/2011/07/my-indian-travel-adventure.html My post details the story of the Maharajah and his son. Fascinating. A Famous Portrait, the Indore Diamonds, a Notable Indian Prince The Maharaja of Indore was influential in Indore's incorporation into India in 1948 and was a noted spokesman for the United Nations. He also loved European life and luxury. After his studies in England as a young man, he travelled to France with his wife. Keen admirers of modern art, the couple befriended Henri-Pierre Roché, who was deeply involved with the artistic avant-garde in Paris and who was friends with artists like Brancusi, Man Ray and Picabia. In 1929, when the Maharaja wanted to decorate one of the rooms in his palace at Indore, Roché recommended Bernard Boutet de Monvel, who set to work on his portrait. Pleased with this first commission, in 1933 the Maharajah asked for a second portrait in ceremonial dress, with a pendant portrait of his wife in traditional dress. The two paintings were exhibited in the Wildenstein Gallery in New York in January 1934, where they were so successful that Boutet de Monvel made a replica of the Maharajah's portrait in 1934: the one Sotheby’s offered in the recent sale. It sold for several million euros. The Maharaja is wearing the ‘Indore pears’ — diamonds weighing almost 47 carats each, especially mounted on a pearl necklace by Chaumet for this portrait. Majestically seated on his throne, wearing his traditional turban, his silhouette seems to float in space. A few refined touches of color – the deep red carpet, the multi-colored material of the saber's sheath and the delicately crumpled, richly colored fabric – subtly highlight the clean lines of the painting. CREDITS:Images above from ‘Bernard Boutet de Monvel At the Origins of Art Deco’ by Stéphanie-Jacques Addade (Flammarion 2016). Published here with express permission of the publisher. Images/portraits from the catalog of the Sotheby’s sale, April 2016, from the estate of Bernard Boutet de Monvel, used here with permission from Sotheby’s. Save

Portrait of Prince Muazzam Jah, Prince of Hyderabad, son of the last Nizam, Mir Osman Ali Khan, circa 1920-1949.

For the first time in 70 years, Hampton Court Palace was closed to visitors.

Lithographic portraits Nizam of Hyderabad ILN 10 February 1906, Andhra Pradesh, India

You are looking at a truly exquisite IMPOSSIBLE TO FIND VINTAGE LUCIEN PICCARD GIANT INDIAN MAHARAJAH PRINCE'S BUST PENDANT NECKLACE, featuring a Silver-tone Metal Figural Dimensional Medallion of a Man's Face with Headdress Turban and Feathered Collar, Done with Black Enamel Details and with a Huge Emeral Green Swarovski Crystal Rhinestone, on a Chunky Textured Chain, Huge, Extra Large, this Piece Makes a Big Statement, SIGNED, Circa 1970's. SUPER RARE AND IMPOSSIBLE TO FIND!!! IN EXCELLENT VINTAGE CONDITION, LOOKING LIKE BRAND NEW!! This glamorous statement necklace features a giant 4 1/4" long by 2 3/4" wide silver-plated metal pendant medallion with extremely ornate and intricate detail. The extraordinarily beautiful dimensional Indian man's bust has an extremely realistic face and is shown wearing the fanciest regalia adorned with an emerald green Swarovski crystal rhinestone and black enamel, all done with a very intricate design. The huge pendant hangs from a textured chunky link chain that measures 26" long. Signed LUCIEN PICCARD on the back of the pendant. Condition: In pristine, above excellent vintage condition, the piece has hardly ever been worn, shiny and beautiful, with no silver-plate loss whatsoever, with no scratches, no dents and absolutely no damage to report. The pictures are truly representative of the condition of this item; so, please, look at them carefully. ALL DARK REFLECTIONS, IF ANY, ARE FROM THE CAMERA. A TRUE SHOWSTOPPER!!!!! NO RETURNS. Sold in 'AS IS' vintage condition. I HAVE MANY OTHER MAGNIFICENT DESIGNER FINDS! PLEASE, TAKE A LOOK!

Some places stay persistently off the beaten track, despite their many charms. Here’s a sampling of places overlooked because of geography, chance and the presence of more glamorous neighbours.

Palace hotels in India are amazing places to experience living like a maharajah. Here's our pick of the best places in India.

Dreaming in Color: My Return to the Rambagh Palace My deep affections for Jaipur, memories of the Princess, jewels at the Gem Palace, walks in the garden and why the Rambagh is all the Raj. Dateline: Rajasthan, India This week we are exploring the bold and glamorous India of the Raj, and beyond. We’re in the handsome city of Jaipur, in Northwestern India, south of Delhi. Jaipur was formerly the capital of the princely state ruled by the jewel-bedecked and very handsome maharajahs of Jaipur. At India’s 1947 Independence, the princely states were disbanded—but Jaipur has retained its elegance, its fine architecture, its traditional workshops of fine craftsmanship, and the superb Rambagh Palace hotel. I’ve been staying there for years. This week we’re exploring historic Jaipur. Come with me to wander the marble halls of the regal (but low-key) Rambagh Palace hotel. Jump with me into the springy back seat of a vintage army-green Plymouth as we roll over to the Gem Palace to feast on diamonds, lustrous pearls, and a treasure trove of worldly beauty. This is my favorite way of experiencing Jaipur—a city I’ve been visiting since I first arrived there as a student. It was love at first sight. The Glorious Rambagh Palace My home in Jaipur is the Rambagh Palace hotel, now managed by the Taj Group, and still owned by the Jaipur royal family who maintain their offices at the hotel. You may be fortunate to see members of the royal family greeting guests in the lobby, or hosting guests on the terrace. Rambagh Palace, on forty-seven tranquil acres of superbly maintained gardens, is an architectural masterpiece. Originally built as a country retreat for the ladies of the royal family, it combines the best of Rajput and Mughal architecture with traditional carved marble walls, lavish interiors, and a timeless air. It has been updated and remodeled over the years—but to me it always looks the same. It’s a landmark. The real deal. Peacocks shriek in the garden, staff walk briskly, Bollywood and Hollywood stars sweep through the lobby, world leaders depart discreetly. Guests gather for drinks in the evening to watch the mesmerizingly beautiful traditional Rajasthan tribal dances. This is the place to be in India. One reason I love the Rambagh is that is a real palace. It’s not a new hotel built in the style of a palace. It’s not bling’d up. It’s not flashy at all. The staff is discreet and rather low-key. Service is personal, helpful, and never intrusive. But, if like me you love Assam tea, loose leaf, the butler will find the finest loose leaf Assam tea for you to take home. The Rambagh is not trying to be palatial. Some of the suites—the ones that newlyweds adore—are rather over-the-top and deliciously so. But many (the ones I choose) are less decorated, more monochromatic. Built in 1853, this property was the Maharaja of Jaipur’s country estate, and the royal family lived here until 1957. Their style was rather English, and various English decorators came and went in the twenties and thirties. Today the palace exudes timeless Rajasthani style and spirit with a splash of Raj glamour and grandeur. The suites have been reconfigured to offer more space and light and a broader range of décor. In some of the top suites (like the lovely Peacock Suite), form follows fantasy. Once the residence of Maharaja Sawai Man Singh II and his queen, Maharani Gayatri Devi, Rambagh Palace discreetly gives a vivid sense of centuries past. It’s well located, close to the center of the historic walled city of Jaipur where the best jewelers have their galleries and workshops. Accomodations: Whenever I’m in Jaipur (several times a year though I wish even more often) I stay at Rambagh (that’s what locals and everyone familiar with the hotel calls it). It happens that it’s also the favorite of Indian film stars (and stars like Daniel Craig) when they are filming in Jaipur. How do I know the film stars? They stalk through the lobby with a phalanx of bodyguards, full of strut and swagger. Perhaps also it’s their ‘sunglasses worn indoors’ syndrome that gives them away. I love it. A couple of years ago when I stayed there, Judi Dench and Maggie Smith (now the Duchess on ‘Downton Abbey’) were staying at Rambagh while they were filming ‘The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel’. They were lovely ladies…women of great charm and modesty. They were nice to staff—and I saw them several times shopping for jewelry at Gem Palace. What I Love Rambagh Palace highlights: window-shopping for diamond rings and emerald necklaces (not buying) before and after dinner at the hotel’s Gem Palace shop. I always stock up my research library at N.K. Jain’s bookshop with its ultra-rare and out-of-print volumes and essential references on Indian palaces and interiors, textiles and Raj history, plus stacks of William Dalrymple’s must-have books on India. Snoozing in the maharani’s romantic bedroom? It’s possible at this fabled luxury hotel. The viceroy, Jackie Kennedy, Queen Elizabeth II, and lords and ladies of the British Raj all visited in the days of the maharajahs. Nowadays, you’re likely to encounter actors Dev Patel and Freida Pinto (the lovebirds of ‘Slumdog Millionair) — among recent stars we spied. I like that. This is a hotel where continuity of style and décor, as well as polished staff and constant high standards, are subtle and essential. The tone: warm and friendly, and a little bit formal. I love meeting the front desk staff, all graduates from the Taj management program and world-class. MEMORIES OF THE EARLY DAYS OF RAMBAGH PALACE, 1930s “In the thirties, the Maharaja of Jaipur, Jai Singh, lived at Rambagh Palace, which was once a series of pleasure pavilions surrounded by gardens and reflecting pools. It was used by the ladies of the palace to walk in the cool of the evening and escape from the confines of City Palace. Later, it was used as a shooting lodge, and quarters needed to house visiting maharajas and other important guests. Later Rambagh was enlarged with scalloped arches and verandas and cupolas arranged around courtyards. He decided to use Rambagh as his primary residence and had everything modernized. All the palace servants wore gold cummerbunds and beautifully tied turbans. The nine entrances to the palace grounds were manned by the maharajah’s personal guards.” —from ‘A Princess Remembers: The Memoirs of the Maharani of Jaipur’ by Gayatri Devi, copyright 1995. Text taken from my personal copy, signed by the Maharani: ‘For Dear Diane, with best wishes, Gayatri Devi, Jaipur, 8-4-2006’ The Maharani of Jaipur, Legendary Princess The Rajmata Gayatri Devi: Whenever I was staying at Rambagh, I visited her for tea at her residence, Lilypool, just through the hedge and across the lawn from Rambagh. I used to walk in the hotel garden, among the peacocks, with the Rajmata and her younger sister, Menaka. When she was in residence at Lilypool, the Rajmata went at least twice a day to the temple at Moti Doongri fort (visible at night from the terrace of Rambagh). I’d meet her for tea. The phone often rang. Chums from London, or her friend Sudhir Kasliwal, or the principal of one of the schools she founded. To the end, she was engaging, she was charming, and she was regal, witty and forceful. I still ‘see’ her walking in the garden in the twilight in a lovely turquoise sari, or buying rings at Gem Palace. Her husband, the Maharaji, died playing polo. Her son, her only child, died quite young. Politics turned against her. Her beloved sister died. And the Rajmata (queen mother) remained, for many, a powerful force for justice and women’s rights until she died, aged 90. She was beloved in Jaipur. She started a grade school in a small village on the outskirts of Jaipur (I send school supplies there and visit), and she is missed. Her funeral after she died on July 29, 2009, was a parade of elephants, Marwari horses, polo players, world leaders, all of the Indian ruling families, school children. Rambagh: One of my favorite historic hotels Yes, the hotel is palatial in a Moghul way—but my favorite rooms are rather understated. I like one because it has access to a terrace overlooking the garden. I like another because the sitting room/ bedroom/ dining room is decorated in Anglo-Indian style, with a black and white marble floor, pale off-white walls, portraits, and carved mahogany furniture. It’s low-key and elegant, not especially glittery. There is also the Peacock Suite (which I love), which overlooks the garden where peacocks preen and stalk about, and even perch on the terrace. Friends of mine who often stay at Rambagh prefer rooms with a pronounced expression of Indian traditional styles, with opulent golden silk curtains, beaded trims, handwoven silks, and highly detailed carved antiques. They love the craftsmanship, the Indian textiles, the vibrant colors. To everyone, their heart’s desire. CHASING PEACOCKS: I wanted to show you the peacocks that roam the Rambagh garden, and leap up onto the balconies. One late afternoon, I walked out onto my terrace--and the peacocks were out looking for supper. I stalked them, very respectfully and with great discretion. This is the closest I could get. RAMBAGH LUXURY: The Grand Royal Suites, originally part of the private chambers of the royal family, have been carefully restored to preserve the original architectural style of the Palace. From the richly-textured furnishings to the arched Agra-style windows that frame splendid garden views, Maharani and Prince's Suites have a stately elegance. One has the Maharani’s mirrored bathroom. So chic. These themed suites built around a grand scheme — Peacock, Kachhawaha, the Maharaja, Badal Mahal and Rang Niwas—are favorited by honeymoon couples who love the rich silks and delicate artwork, the bright colours, the once-in-a-lifetime regal ambience. DINING: My favorite, day and evening, is the Verandah Café. This alfresco dining terrace overlooks the landscaped gardens and beyond is the Moti Doongri fort. Indian and Continental cuisines. Oh, and watch for the palmreader who sets up his table in the evening. Around 7pm, a lovely and very authentic dance performance begins. VINTAGE STYLE: One secret pleasure of staying at the Rambagh is that some of the Maharajah's cars may be available, with expert driver, to drive a guest into town. I've written before about riding in the Maharani's 1930s Daimler — a dream. It is evidently in Delhi for some repairs (it has been there a long time now). So, this less glamorous but rather wonderfully preserved old Plymouth is the current vintage car. Lovely staff — including my butler (in jodhurs) and the front desk manager Chandni (her name means moonlight) posed very spontaneously for me. The driver is in red turban. My Favorite Trip in Jaipur: A Visit to the Gem Palace My driver, wearing traditional tunic and turban guides me to the driveway and into the all-wood interior of the rare and superbly maintained vehicle. This time it’s a 1948 Plymouth, army green, all polished up and full of vim and vigor. It has a mere 35,366 on the odometer and the back seat is bouncy with bold new springs. The workshops of the Gem Palace, owned by the philanthropic Kasliwal family, once made jewels for maharanis. Now their diamonds and jewels fuel the desire of fashion designers like Giorgio Armani, Princess Diana, European royalty, French fashion designers, London interior designers, German barons, Moroccan royals, Dubai emirs, and a world of gem collectors too rich, dazzling, or famous to mention. The Gem Palace. Diamonds as big as the Ritz. Emeralds the size of quail eggs. No, I’m not buying diamonds, but I do love the aquamarines, the pink tourmalines, citrines, and topazes. Oh, yes. I love Gem Palace, and the Kasliwal family, whom I’ve known for many years of visits to Jaipur, are dear friends. “Baubles, bangles, Hear how they jing, jing-a-ling-a, Baubles, bangles, Bright, shiny beads. Sparkles, spangles, My heart will sing, sing-a-ling-a, Wearing baubles, bangles and beads.” – Wright/ Forest/Borodin, from ‘Kismet’ 1955 Munnu Kasliwal, a young son of the family that has owned Jaipur’s legendary Gem Palace for seven generations, was considered one of the top fine jewelry authorities in the world. Sadly, tragically, he died last fall. “Jaipur was founded in 1727 and has always had a tradition of rare handcrafted jewelry and art,” he told me. Jaipur is now the world’s center of precious stone cutting, gems and jewelry crafting. Many jewelers (including Gem Palace) sell to jewelers and fashion boutiques in Paris, Los Angeles, New York, London and San Francisco, and prices in India are not strikingly lower. But, the selection, the atmosphere, the experience are priceless. Jaipur is home to diamonds and museum-quality emeralds and sapphires, as well as traditional tribal silver jewelry, and armfuls of lacquer and crystal bracelets for the princely sum of $1 each. In Jaipur among the day’s temptations were diamond earrings and a maharaja’s trove of sapphire and diamond rings that caught the attention of fashion designers and their throngs who attended Liz Hurley’s wedding in Jodhpur. Gem Palace delights included an emerald bead torsade, a gold snake bracelet, an Egyptian-style lapis-lazuli-and-turquoise necklace and a Burmese ruby necklace sparkling with diamond rondelles. The prices? While there are superb flat-cut tourmaline rings for $450 and pretty citrine rings for $500, more ornate pieces start around $5,000 and up to the stratosphere. Sudhir Kasliwal, founder of the Rajputana Automotive Sports Car Club, collects rare vintage cars. Several of them are garaged at Gem Palace. He is an accomplished photographer, often commissioned to shoot significant heritage images of Rajasthan and Jaipur. He published a cookbook with the Maharani of Jaipur with whom he was a very close friend. Sanjay Kasliwal, so international, runs the shop and greets endless rounds of glitterati (Judi Dench and Maggie Smith were there recently). OH, THE BEAUTY — SUDHIR KASLIWAL'S COLLECTION: When I visited Gem Palace, I was fortunate that his cars, usually under wraps, were being buffed up for a vintage car rally. A team carefully polishes, shines, cleans and carefully perfects each inch of the cars. Many of these beauties (which have all won awards) were formerly in the collections of maharajas, princes, princesses, and various members of royal families, avid collectors. The cars are absolutely wonderful fun to ride in...you have to dress up a bit and look the part. For old friends of the family, it is now a delight to see the next generation learning from their fathers, eagerly picking up intricacies and business acumen and discretion from their family. Siddharth Kasliwal is now managing his studio. Samir Kasliwal, charming and helpful, advises guests in the shop. Gem Palace is in good hands, with multi-generations of world-class jewelers taking care of business. Top of the top. I can’t wait to return. To visit the Gem Palace: The Gem Palace M.I. Road Jaipur, Rajasthan, India phone 0141-2363061 www.gempalacejaipur.com And if, for the moment, you can't make the trek to India to peruse the selection, there are always displays of Gem Palace/Munnu pieces at Barney’s New York stores (New York and San Francisco, for example). It is also now possible to schedule a viewing in New York, where Gem Palace recently opened a by-appointment-only salon in a charming brownstone on Manhattan's Upper East Side. Munnu: The Gem Palace 49 E 74th St New York, New York 10021(212) 861-0606 The Rambagh Palace Book Shop After dinner at the Rambagh, my favorite treat is to wander into the Gem Palace boutique to try on aquamarine rings or emerald necklaces. Then…next-door is N.K. Jain’s impressive incense-scented bookshop with an in-depth library of reference books on Indian culture. It’s called Photo Service, for reasons too complex to explain. It’s a noted bookshop. When I was there recently, the great New York designer/architect/sculptor Thierry Despont was flicking through design portfolios and rare volumes on traditional Moghul architecture. I always return home with bags of books, old, new, obscure, vintage, best-sellers, arcane, just everything about Indian culture, design, style, and literature. The key: for approximately $15, any book including paperbacks, can be hand-bound in dark blue, brown, green or red leather and its title hand stamped in gold on the spine. Mr. Jain can ship, or it can be completed in a few days. Photo Service, N.K. Jain, Rambagh Palace Hotel, 011-91-141-238- 5030. Call ahead for hours, which are somewhat eccentric. Excursions Indian highways are so much improved. Now it is possible to contemplate driving to Udaipur from Jaipur (I did it recently, about 5 hours, on a very good highway). Now, it is possible to plan, on the new highway, heading to Agra by road. Until recently I would not have advised it. With a good driver, one of the new four-wheel drive vehicles, and a nice picnic lunch to enjoy halfway, it can be a very pleasant way to see the countryside. Consider the following: • Ranthambore – 182 Kms – 3.5 hours journey (that’s the tiger sanctuary). • Agra – 250 km – 5.5 hours journey • Pushkar / Ajmer – 140 km – 2.5 hours • Delhi – 265 km– 4.5 hours (better to fly, however) Rambagh Palace Bhawani Singh Road Jaipur - 302 005 Rajasthan, India PHOTO CREDITS: Images of the hotel, the architecture and suites courtesy of Taj Hotels and Resorts, used here with kind permission. Images of gardens, peacocks, vintage cars at Gem Palace, and Plymouth and Rambagh staff by Diane Dorrans Saeks, published here exclusively. www.tajhotels.com

“Its fleeting elegance reminds us to embrace the moment—and it’s also just incredibly beautiful,” says Athena Calderone of the revival of the retro ice sculpture trend.

Handmade white gold bead throw pillow White geometric throw pillows with bead sequins detail. Gold pillow inspired by the glamor and sumptuous patterns loved by Maharajahs. This beautifully intricate throw pillow will make a great add to your home decor. Description This listing is for two pillow cover only - INSERT NOT INCLUDED  Same faux silk fabric on both sides Backed by cotton lining Serged seams Zipper closure Spot cleaning Measurement Available in multiple sizes.   Please select the size you like from the pull down menu. Shipping Cost: FREE SHIPPING anywhere in the world; usually ships within 4 to 5 business days  Guarantee and Exchange Policy: 30 Day exchange and money back guarantee.  For policies, please Click Here Need Help? Contact Us

The begum of Bhopal escorts the Prince of Wales to the Durbar Hall, India, 1921. The future King Edward VIII on a royal visit to India. Illustration from George V and Edward VIII, A Royal Souvenir,...