Click to play videoLondon: A year after a marble bust of Maharaja Duleep Singh was auctioned in London for £17 lakh (Rs 14 crore) , his father Maharaja Ranjit Singh's marble bust will now go under the hammer.
The marble bust of Maharaja Ranjit Singh will go under the hammer next week at Bonhams auction house in London.
“The Duleep Singh’s bust was by one of the greatest Victorian sculptors but this is more coming out of an unknown background but in contrast Ranjit Singh is a much more important figure for the Sikhs. I think inevitably there is a lot of interest and a question mark hanging on what might happen this time,” says Bonhams’ Islamic and Indian Department Matthew Thomas.
It was during Maharaja Ranjit Singh's reign- from 1801 until 1839- that a United Kingdom of Punjab was built out of warring factions.
This Sher-e-Punjab is also known for owning the Kohinoor diamond and for beautifying the Golden Temple in Amritsar.
Despite all the grandeur, he was quite a short man and had lost one eye to small pox. This bust, in contrast, is more flattering- perhaps a tribute to his deeds.
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