The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1890-05-02
OF GOLD AND GEMS.
Tho Throne of Persia the Most Gorgeous
Ever OCCUPIED.

Ever Occupied.
The "Peacock Throne of Delhi" (Which
for many years has been in Teheran. the
and costly seat ever occupied by monarch.
It was constructed by the celebrated Shah
Jehan. the Mogul emperor who reigned
from 1927 to 1857. He was the favorite son
of the Emperor Selim, who took the title of
Jehanghir, or "Conqueror of the World"
and his mother was the renowned Nour-
mahal, ''The Light of the Harem.'' Shah
Jehan was a monarch of magnificent
tastes, and the Peacock Throne was his
favorite achievement in the manifestation
of his barbaric sumptuousness. Tavernier,
the celebrated French traveller in India,
who was an expert in jems as jewelers.
work made close examination of this mag
nifcent creation of Oriental art soon after
it was completed, and gave the following de-
scription Of it:
The Peacock Throne is nearly Of the
form and size of our camp beds; that is to
say, it il about six feet long and four wide.
Upon the four feet. which are very massive.
and from twenty to twenty five inches high,
are fixed the four bars which support the
raised twelve columns, which sustain the
canopy of three sides, there not being any
on that side which faces the court. Both
the feet and the bars, which are more than
eighteen inches long, are covered with gold.
lnlaid and enriched with numerous dia-
die of each bar there is large balas-ruby
en- cabochon, [polished but not out, with
four emeralds round it, which form a
square cross. Next in succession, from one
side to the other along the length of the
bars, there are similar crosses, arranged SO
that in one the ruby is in the middle Of four
emeralds, and in another the emerald is in
lit.
I counted the large balas rubies on the
great throne, and there are about one hun
dred ard eight. all cabochons, the least of
which weighs 100 karats, but there are
some which z. weigh, apparently, 200 and
of good color. but they have many flaws;
the largest may weigh sixty and the least
thirty carats. l counted about one hun
dred and sixteen.
The underside of the canopy is covered
with diamonds and pearls, with fringe of
which is Observation-Disclosures dome.
there is to be seen a peacock. with elevated
tail, made of blue sapphires and other col
ored stones, the body being of gold, inlaid
with precious stones, having large ruby
in front of the breast, from which hangs a
pc6I-SUdpcu pearl VI Alby CdAoOS VI oAokO-
abouts. and of somewhat yellow water.
On both sides of the peacock is large
bouquet of the same height as the bird. and
consisting of many kinds of flowers made
of gold inlaid with precious stones. On the
side of the throne which is opposite the
court there is to be seen jewel consisting
of diamond of from eighty to ninety
carats weight, with rubies and emeralds
round it.
But that which, in my opinion. is the
most costly thing about this magnificent
throne is that the twelve columns support
ing the canopy are surrounded with beauti-
full rows of pearls, which are round and of
fine water, and weigh from six to eight
carats each.
Tavernier says the throne was reputsd to
have cost about sixty million dollars of our
money. Bernier reduces this to twenty
two million five hundred thousand dollars,
and Mr.. s. g. W. Benjamin, in his volume
on Persia" in the STORY Of the Nations
series, to about thirteen million dollars. No
doubt 1t has been subject to ceaseless dilap-
idation from the time of its Completion by
6hah Jehan; but even now it remains the
Rsandest object of sumptuary art ever de,
vised by man.