The Piprahwa Gems

Read on for a short history on the discovery of the Piprahwa gem relics and a map with key locations to know.

A History Spanning Two Millennia

Buddha and the Jewel-filled Casket: The Piprahwa Reliquaries and the Cult of Relics in Early Indian Buddhism

The Piprahwa Gems: A Four Generation Story of Custodianship

Hong Kong

Sotheby's Maison, Hong Kong Landmark Chater, 8 Connaught Road Central, Central&nbsp;

Chairman, Asia | Chairman and Worldwide Head of Asian Art

Nicolas Chow

Senior Vice President, Indian and Himalayan Works of Art

Julian King

Senior Director | Deputy Chairman of Chinese Works of Art, Asia

Carrie Li

Director | Head of Department, Chinese Works of Art

Xibo Wang

Director | Specialist

Cristine Li

Specialist

Rubie Fong

Deputy Director | Head of Mid-Season Sales, Chinese Works of Art

Keason Tang

Cataloguer

Xiaoye Yang

Meet our Specialists

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Sotheby’s is honoured to present the Piprahwa gems, appearing for the first time in Hong Kong. The 1898 discovery of these gems by William Claxton Peppé at Piprahwa in northern India — where they were found buried together in reliquaries with the corporeal relics of the Historical Buddha — ranks among the most extraordinary archaeological discoveries of all time.

The Piprahwa Gems of the Historical Buddha