The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1890-06-05
A 5000 oo.ooo A
The Famous Peacock Throne Of Delhi
Isuilt of Gold aud Gems.

The Famous Peacock Throne of Delhi
Built of Gold and Gems.
The peacock throne Of Delhi" which
for many years has been in Tchcran, the
capital Of Persia is the most replcndent
ant costly e n ever occupied 10y a mon
arch. says the New York Ledger. ID wal
constructed by the celebrated Shah Jehan,
the Mogul emperor who reigned from
1627 to 1857. He was the ~favoritc son Of
the Emperor S,lim, who took the title of
Jehanghir, or "Conqucrcr Of the World"
and his mother was the renowned Nour-
mahal. 1.-THE Light OF the Harem." shah
Jehan was "A monarch OF magnificent
taste. and the peacock throne was his fav-
orite achievement In the manifestation Of
his Barbara sU~inptuous,Icss. Tayernier,
the celebrated French traveller in India,
Who was an expert in gems and jewelers.
work, mad "A close examination OF this
magnificent creation 81 oriental art soon
after il was completed, and gave the fol-
lowing description of IL:
"Thc peacock throne is nearly Of the
form and size of our ,arnp beds; tina is To
say il isabout u feet long and 4 wide. Upon
the four feet. which are very massive and
from soto ~ inches high.aro fixed the four
bars which support the lasc of the throne;
and upon these bars are raised T. columns,
which sustain the canopy on three sides,
there not being any ON thai side which
faces the court. Both the feet and the bars
which are more than Is inches long, are
covered with gold. inlaid aud enriched
with numerous diamonds, rubies and en-
eralds. In the middle OF each bar there is
a large balas ruby en- cabacho lpolishcd
hut not cutl, with four emeralds around
n which form "A square Gro ~. Ncxt in
success on from one side TO the other
along the length OF the bars, there are
similar crosses arranged 50 that In one
the ruby is in the middle of fou emerald
and in another the emerald il In the mic
die and four balas ubies surrou"I IT,"
81 counted the large balas rnh,,' :, 'IC
great throne, aud there are al q a It's, all
cabochous, the least of which Weighs 100
karats. but there Hrn some which weigh
apparently 30aId mor. As for IIr .in-
eralds, there are plenty II good color. hut
they have many flaws: the largest may
Eeigb 90 aud the least 10 karats. ! counted
about llG.
The under side Of he canopy is COW
ered with diamonds and pearls. with a
fringe Of pears all round. and above the
canopy, which Is a OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES
dome there u TO lie seen a ID. acock, with
elevated tail, made II blue sapphir,s and
other colorcd stones, the body being Of
gold, inlaid with precious stones. having a
large ruby in front Of the breast, from
which hangs "A pcar-shapcd pearl Of 20
karats or ~thcrcahouts, and OF a somewhat
yellow water. TN both sides Of the pea
rock is a large boIguei of the same height
as the bird and consisting of many
kinds of flowers made of gold iulaid
with precious stones. On the side of the
throne which is opposite the court there
h 10 be seen "A jewel consisting of IA dia-
mond Of from eighty Ia ninety karats'
weight, with rubics and emeralds round
-
''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
BEAUTIFUL rows Of pearls. which are round
and of fine water. aad weigh from six to
eight knrats zach"
T~arvcnier says the throne was reputed
10 have cost about sGO.O0O.OD OF our
money. Berpi.r reduces this To- S22.J0O.-
Ol, and $. O.. W. Benjamin. 10 his volume
on PERSIA" In the ''Story Of the Nations"
series, To about sl3,UO,ODO. No doubt il
has been subject 10 ceaseless dilapidation
from the time OF its completion by Shah
Jchan; but even now il remains the
arandest object of %sumptuary ART ever de-
ysed by man.