The Opelousas courier., 1896-08-08
GEMS OF ROYALTY.
RARE SPECIMENS COLLECTED
BY THE WORLDS MONARCHS.
Fabulous Treasures Of the Oriental
Courts-Hhe Peacock Throne
Set With $50, OOO. 600
Worth of Gems.
ARGE gems have always had

49, hSS ApAAS ASA
guarded palaces many fine collections
of jewels. The N1zam of Hyderabad
owns. the Victoria diamond, for which
he paid ~, 900, 900. The Maharaiah
of Tanjore is likewise possessed of a
rich store of gems, many of them rare
and curious. The Maharaiah of Baroda
paid 800, 00O for the 125-carat Star
of the South, and also bought the 225-
carat pale yellow De Beers diamond
exhibited at the 1889 Exposition.
According to ts, testimony OF S. G..
W. Benjamin., at one time United
States Minister to Persia, the late
Shah had O very remarkable coIleo-
tion of gems, estimated to be worth
between SIC, 600, 00) and $15, 600, 900,
but it IS almost impossible TO get re.
liable information about them, so
closely are they guarded. The same
may be said of the Snltan of Turkeys
collection, valued OF over $40, 000,-
600.
When the English took possession
of the palace of King Theetew at
Mandalay. Burmah, they searched
eagerly for the fabulous treasures
which it was supposed this Oriental
monarch possessed. They were doomed
to disappointment. Nothing of any
special value was found, the tar-famed
jewels consisting Of O miscellaneous
lot of poor emeralds and rubies. Many
of them were OF large size, but 60 in
ferjor in quality that the English re-
gala could not be enriched by adding
any Of them, So little are they valued
that they are now exhibited in glass
cases in the Indian Museum in Lon
don.
OF all the costly wonders that the
palace of the Mogul Emperors at Delhi
contained, the most wonderful and
the most costly wasthe peacock throne.
This was constructed during the reign
of Shah Jehan, and was the work of q
F%renchman, Austin, Of Bordeaux, who
had sought refuge at the Mogul's court.
1t was estimated that the value OF the
throne was 96, ZOO, Geo sterling. It
stood in the centre Of the beautiful
Hall of Private Audience. and was
named after the figures OF two pea
cocks standing behind it, their tails
being expanded. and tho whole SO ill.,
laid with sapphires, rubies, emeralds,
pearls and other precious stones Of
appropriate colors as TO represent life.
The throne itself was six teet long by
four feet wide; it stood On six massive
feet, which, with the body, were o.
solid gold inlaid with rubies, emeralds,
and diamonds. It was surmounted by
a canopy Of gold suppor""1 by twelve
pillars, oil richly e]mblazonei with
costly gems, and a fringe of pearls
ornamented the border OF the canopy.
Between the two peacocks stood the
figure of a parrot of ordinary size,
said to have been carved cut of q sim
gle emerald. On each side of the throne
stood an umbrella. one of the Oriental
emblems of royalty. They were formed
Of crimson velvet thickly embroidered
and fringed with pearls, the handles,
feet high, being of gold studded
with diamonds. It has been held that
The famous Kohinoor was one OF the |
that ornamented the throne, |
and as this diamond, now in possession
Of Victoria, was owned by Shah Jehan, |
The story may be true. When Delhi
was sacked by the Persians under Nadir !
Shah in 1879 the throne was plundered
If it's jewels, broken up and carried
away, with $3.50, 000, 900 of loot. A
block of white marble now marks the
pot where it once stood.
Catherine Ii. and Peter the Great of |
Russia were lovers of precious stones,
ind collected fine examples of the
eweler's art, which are preserved,
;ogether with other precious relics in
b esKremlln in the Ouregena Palata,
It 3!oscow. Here r thrones studded
With diamonds, rubies, turquoises,
emeralds and sapphires; an
'rb containing a ruby weighing forty
nine carats, and swords and scimitars
studded with gems. The Jewels
proper, which are enclosed in cases,
include workmanship of Renaissance,
ard Persian handiwork, oil
master hands. The wealth Of gems
lsed is amazing. Stones cut and un-
tut, some of the largest size, shine in
;hese regalia. Most wonderful of all
s the coronation crown of Catherine
+, made especially for her by order
II Peter the Great. There are 1858
in this crown, and over the
BROW ii q magnificent ruby. In a sell
~ are placed all the jewelsY
worn the Empress and Grand
on state occasions; and
smoDg diamonds the gems galore is a
,ery large pink diamond which be-
onged to Peter the Great. In state
and gold ware this collection is
unsurpassed, and her monarchs have
been purchasing continuously for
'hree centuries, and never selling their
possessions.
Probably the more luxurious and
mirror is now in the
louvre. Paris. originally possessed by
queen Marie de Medici. It is of rock
and the frame was Of polished
gate set in a network of enamelled
,old. This was but the inner frame.
The outer n was composed entirely
II precious stones, consisting of sar.
jasper, rnbies. emeralds and
When the inventory Of the
'rown diamonds was taken in 1891 by
rider of the National Assembly, this
york of art was valued at $50, OOO. It
8 nov in the Louvre.
The English royal collection has
'een q gradual grorth. The present
epository Of the English regalia is the
.ower Of London. tIAfter the ~ezecu-
ion OF Charles ]. s1as1 of the older
e broker up aud dispersed,