3-065-902 - The Print Collector/Heritage Images

Necklace presented to Lady Mayo by the Rajah of Kappoorthulla, 1874. 'Two years have passed since the hand of a murderous ruffian, at the convict station in the Andaman Isles, deprived the British Indian empire of one of its best chief rulers. The native princes, nobles, and people of that vast dominion cherish his memory...His widow...received from one of those Indian Princes a testimonial of the esteem felt for her lamented husband...The memorial gift will be an heirloom in Lady Mayo's family. It was manufactured by Messrs. Hunt and Roskell to the orders of his Highness, and consists of the magnificent pearl and diamond necklace represented in our Engraving. The centre pendant is surmounted by an Earl's coronet in pearls and diamonds, with the letter M in diamonds. The two smaller pendants are attached to the necklace by the lotus flower in diamonds. Within the festoons are diamond stars of five points. These, with the lotus, are the principal ornaments of the Order of the Star of India, of which the late Earl held the Grand Cross. Depending from the centre ornament, and supporting a large and lustrous pearl drop, is the monogram in diamonds, K.S., which - the initials of Kharak Singh, the name of his Highness the Rajah'. From "Illustrated London News", 1874.