In times of unease the allure of gold and precious stones is immense. The need to protect one's wealth is ages old and no-one knew how to do it better than the Mughal Princes of India. The dream of the glittering courts of the Mughal Emperors and their bejewelled princes from the fortress towns of Rajasthan seems far away in this time of uncertainty but Sue Ollemans is bringing such a collection to Hong Kong for her annual exhibition at the Altfield Gallery in May.

Shah Jahan was the most generous of the Mughals leaving behind a magnificent legacy in the arts, The Taj Mahal being one such example. His beloved daughter Jahan Ara, imprisoned with her father was also a great patron of the arts. On the exhibition is a bottle carved from white jade in the form of a mango inlaid with rubies, diamonds and emeralds used for kohl and inscribed to Jahan Ara. The flowers found on the bottle are similar in style to those found on the cenotaph to Shah Jahan. It was practise for pieces to be inscribed if coming from the royal treasury.

A fine diamond necklace with pure Columbian emerald drop pendant comes from Hyderabad. Under the patronage of the Nizzam of Hyderabad the fine style of kundan was continued as the power of the Northern Princes began to falter. Also from Hyderabad is a pair of bazubands with fine green enamelling and set with an array of diamonds and spinel.

A lovely Golconda diamond ring set with Burmese rubies is a little treasure from the North of India.

From the Deccan, an area never conquered by the Moghuls is a fine Gold Thali set, given to brides on their wedding day and representing the fingers of the husband and of course protected by Shiva.

There is a group of jewellery with navartana stones. The nine holy stones each represent a planet along with the ascending and descending moons. When worn these pieces are believed to bring the body into harmony and at ease with the universe.