Book excerpt: "In October 1875, Edward VII, then Prince of Wales, set off on a four-month tour of the Indian subcontinent. During his travels the Prince was presented with a wide array of beautiful gifts ranging from brooches to swords and from military figures to an articulated golden fish. Each item was intricately wrought, often in precious metals with jewel-encrusted details. Not only did the presentation of these pieces forge a personal link between the Prince and the gift-giver, but as a collection, these exquisite objects proved to be highly influential on European taste and design. This ... publication presents the reader with a miscellany of South Asian works of art, through which the author tells the story of the Prince's journey and the history of these intriguing objects"--Dust jacket.