1947 brought nationhood to India and the loss of British stipends to the maharajahs, whose loyalty to the crown had been subsidized. In order to survive, the rulers turned their palaces into luxury hotels, sold their horses, their elephants and their furnishings. Eventually they also sold their miniatures, flooding the market. Quite a few dealers in the New York City area specialize in Indian miniatures. Both Christie's and Sotheby's include Indian miniatures in their regular sales of Asian art.
Prices given include the auction-house premium.
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