"The Lahore Emerald Girdle, c. 1840.  The emeralds in this exquisite piece were inherited by India's Maharajah Sher Singh from Ranjit Singh, his father known as the ""Lion of the Punjab.""  ""The Lion,"" it is said, had used the emeralds to decorate his horse harnesses.  The maharajah had the emeralds made into this exceptional girdle circa 1840.  Nine years later, the Directors of the East India Company obtained the belt and presented it to Queen Victoria in 1851."
{"Image Artist": "THE ROYAL COLLECTION", "Image Copyright": "The Royal Collection \u00a9 Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II"}