Sharjah24 – Reuters: Two pairs of bejewelled Mughal-era spectacles set with diamond and emerald lenses are expected to fetch up to $3.5 million each when they are auctioned in London on Wednesday (October 27).
The glasses were commissioned by an unknown 17th century prince, auction house Sotheby's said, with the precious stone lenses believed to boost spiritual enlightenment.
One pair, named "Gate of Paradise", features emerald lenses set in diamond-mounted frames. The second, called "Halo of Light", has diamond lenses set in diamond-mounted frames. The lenses are said to date from the 17th century while the frames are from the 19th century.
"The diamonds came from the Golconda mines (in India) and at the Mughal court, these were cleaved from stones which originally would have weighed two to three hundred carats ... They were re-fashioned in their current 19th century spectacle-like fashion."
Both pairs are being offered at Sotheby's Arts of the Islamic World & India sale on Wednesday, with a price estimate of 1.5 million to 2.5 million pounds ($2 million - $3.4 million).
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