Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Indian States, Patiala, Portrait Miniature of Lieutenant-General H.H. The Maharajah Bhupindar Singh, diamond-set oval, 35 x 28mm., in gold and enamel, the Maharajah in ceremonial regalia and wearing a collar chain, breast stars and medals; this pendant from a gold and diamond-set monogram, unmarked, extremely fine and of the highest rarity £3000-3500

This portrait miniature formed part of lot 388 at Christie’s on 22 November 1988. The lot comprised a gold miniature collar chain of The Most Eminent Order of the Indian Empire, and from the central lower link was suspended this diamond-set miniature portrait of Maharajah Bhupindar Singh, while pendant to each sideof the collar were paired miniature orders representing those awarded to the Maharajah; also see lot 472 in this catalogue and lot 948 in Dix Noonan Webb, 19 September 2003 for other miniatures from this collar chain.

Lieutenant-General H.H. Sir Bhupinder Singh, G.C.S.I., G.C.I.E., G.C.V.O., G.B.E., A.D.C., Maharajah of Patiala was born in 1891 and succeeded in 1900. He was granted limited powers on attaining his majority in 1909, and invested with full powers by the Viceroy, Lord Minto, in person in 1910. His Highness received the dignity of Knight Grand Commander of the Order of the Indian Empire at the Delhi Durbar in December 1911. At the outbreak of the Great War, the Maharajah placed the entire resources of his State at the disposal of His Majesty the King-Emperor and offered too his personal services. He was selected by the Viceroy to represent the ruling princes of India at the Imperial War Conference and Imperial War Cabinet in June 1918. It was at this time he visited the major fronts of the war and received a number of foreign awards. In 1919, with the outbreak of the Third Afghan War, the Maharajah served personally on the frontier on the Staff of the General Officer Commanding and for his services was mentioned in despatches. He represented the Indian Princes at the League of Nations in 1925 and was elected to serve as Chancellor of the Chamber of Princes in 1927-30 and 1933-36. Maharajah Bhupindra Singh died on 23 March 1938 and was succeeded by his eldest legitimate son, Maharajah Yadvindra Singh.

The Maharajah may have commissioned his miniature collar chain with its pendant miniatures from Garrards sometime between the summer of 1918, when he received most his foreign orders, and early in 1921, when he was made a Knight Grand Commander of the Star of India, an Order having precedence over the Order of the Indian Empire.