The crystal Swarowski Maharajah

Here is the crystal Air India Maharajah made by Swarowski. A limited quantity was ordered for the Golden Jubilee of Air India in 1998, and I understand that only 50-100 pieces were ordered. Interestingly, the story goes that an even smaller number were delivered.

I have written to Swarowski for more information, but no reply has come in from them so far. It appears that the order was processed by the Vienna office of Air India, and hence not much information is available in the airline as well.

What I do know is that there was a grand celebration event held at the Taj Mahal Hotel in Mumbai, and Mr. J. R. D. Tata was invited as the chief guest. He spoke nostalgically about his years with the airline, and a Films Division documentary of the 1948 flight was also shown.

The Swarowski Maharajah was also presented to Mr. Tata and other senior Air India officials. The one in my collection was graciously presented to me by a former Managing Director of the airline, and I am ever so grateful to him for his generosity. This is so rare that is all these years of collecting Air India memorabilia, I have never seen this on the market, in India or abroad.

The Maharajah comes packed in molded foam, set inside a strong cylindrical box with a decorative motif and Air-India Centaur and Maharajah logos.