Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1896-07-08
JEWELS OF ROYALTY.
p,nE SPECIMENS COLLECTED ID
THE WORLDS MoNARcHs.
r,,,,ou, Treasures of the orieh'"'
courts-The Peacock Throne
with $50. ooo. 900 worth of Gems
Famous Collections. ..i h-....

George F. Kunz in New YORK SUM-
1orga CONS have always had great
charm 10 the Orientals, who nave Away
,o,d more for them than the Europeans
/ The Orient hides within her jealousy
Guarded palaces many fine collections OF
tou,els The Nizam Of Hyderabad owns
| the Victoria diamond, for which he pald
| % oO0OO. The Maharajah, OF TanJore' Is
! likewise possessed Of rich store o. gems
many Of them rare and curious The Ma
baraiah of Baroda paid 100000 for the
125-carat Star of the South, and also
bought the 22j-carat pale yellow DE Beers
| diamond exhibited at the 1883 exposition
When the English took possession OF
the palace Of King Theebaw at Mandalaw'
Burmah, they searched eagerly Tor the
fabulous treasures which it was sup
posed this Oriental monarch possessed
They were doomed to disappointment.
Nothing Of any special value was FOUND
| the far-famed jewels, consisting OF mis-
| cellaneous lot of poor emeralds and ru-
/ bies. Many of them were of large slae'
but so inferior in quality that the Eng
| lish regalia could not be enriched by ADJ
ing any OF them. So little are they
valued that they are now exhibited IN
glass cases in the Indian Museum, IN
London.
Many OF these Oriental collections, ac-
cording to Sir Edwin Arnold and other
Oriental travellers. are kept in isolated
rooms. Sometimes the gems are wrapped
in rags, or concealed in ginger-jars, old
boxes, and out-of-the-way places, so that
even an intimate visitor may be a guest
for weeks and only occasionally see a
jewel. and only when he has the entire
confidence of his host are the treasures
shown one at a time.
OF an the costly wonders that the
palace Of the Mogul Emperors az Delhi
contained. the most wonderful ana the
most costly was the peacock throne.
This was constructed during the reign
OF Shah Jehan, and was the work Of
Frenchman. Austin Of Bordeaux, who had
sought refuge at the NIogul's court II
was estimated that the value Of the
throne was 100000 sterling. II stood in
the centre Of the beautiful Hall Of Pri-
vate Audience. and was named after the
figures Of two peacOcks standing behind
il, their tails being expanded, and the
whole so inaid with sapphires, rubies,
emeralds. pearls. and other precious
stones Of appropriate cOlOTs as 10 repre-
sent life The throne itself was six feet
long by four feet wide, it stood on six
massive feet, which with the body. were
OF solid gold inlaid with rubies. emeralds.
and diamonds Ii was surmOunted by
canopy of gold supported by twelve pill
lars, all highly embazoned with costly
gems, and a fringe Of pearls ornamented
the border Of the canopy. Between the
two neacocks stood the figure Of parrot
Of ordinary size, said TO have been carved
OUT OF q single emerald. on each side Of
the throne stood an umbrella, one Of the
Oriental emblems Of royalty. They We're
formed Of crimson velvet thckly en-
broidered and fringed with pearls. the
handles eight feet high being OF gold
studded with diamonds. II has been held
that the famous Kohinoor was one Of
the Jewels that ornamented the throne,
and as this diamond. now I'm 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
of It's jewels, broken up. and carried
away, with SJ00l000o Of loot \ block OF
white marble now marks the spot where
10 once stood.
Catherine III. and Peter the Great OF
Russia were lovers Of precious stones, ana
collected fine examples Of the jewellers
art, which are preserved, together with
other precious relics, In the Kremlip In
the Ouregena Palata, at Moscow. Here
are thrones studded with diamonds
rubies. turquoises. pearls, emeralds. and
sapphirss; an orb containing ruby weigh
ing forty-nine carats. and swords ana
sclmitars thickly studded with gems. The
Jewels proper. which are inclosed I'm cases
include workmanship Of Renaissance. By
zantine. and Persian handiwork. all by
master hands The wealth OF gems used
is amazing. Stones cut and uncut. some
of the largest size. shine in these regalia.
Most wonderful of all Is the coronation
crown Of Catherine T., made especially
for her by order Of Peter the Great There
are 23jS diamonds I'm this crown, and
over the brow Is a magnificent ruby; N
a separate case are placed all the Jewels
worn by the Empress and Grand Ouch
esses on state occasions and among dla-
monds the gems galore IS a very large
pink diamond which belonged 10 Peter
the Great In state silver and goldware
this collection is unsurpassed, and her
monarchs have been purchasing con-
tinu0uslv for three centuries, and never
selling their possessions.
In France Louis XIV. and Louis Ky.
took particular interest IN this subject.
II was at the suggestion OF the former
that Tavernier the great traveller. made
his search for gems in so many countries
Of the world and unearthed the blue
diamond"
I'm 1857 the French crown Jewels were
sold at public auction by order OF the
government, realizing some 10000 francs
These Jewels included all but two of tie
Mazarin diamonds. and many gems worn
by the unfortunate Marie Antoinett-.
About one third OF the entire amount
auctioned of was purchased BY one
American. The great Regent diamond
was not sold. This and two Mazarin
diamonds are now on exhibition In q
case in the Galerie d'Apollon. In the
Louvre. Probably the more luxurious and
resplendent mirror Is now in the Louvre.
originally possessed by Queen Marie De
NJ edici. IL is Of rock crystal and the
frame was OF polished agate, set IN |
net work OF enamelled gold. This was
but the inner frame. The outer one was
composed entirely OF precious stones, |
consisting OF sardonyx, Jasper rubIe-, |
emeralds and diamonds. When the in |
yentory OF the crown diamonds was taken |
in 1921 by order OF the National As |
sembly. this work OF art was valued at |
10000 francs II is now in the Louvre.
The English royal collection has been |
gradual growth. The present repository |
Of the English regalia IS the Tower OF |
London. After the execution of Charles |
|. some Of the older objects were broken |
I'D and dispersed. and al the restoration !
ii was necessary 10 reconstruct many or |
them for the Kings coronation. Nearly |
all Of the historical pieces date no fur |
Their back than the time Of Charles II. |
The ancient regalla comprises two crowns. |
an orb, a sceptre with a cross. a sceptre |
with a dove. a long sceptre of gold n |
ring, with ruby, and several minor ar |
ticles.
The most conspicuous and valuable OBJ |
feet in the collection IS the crown OF |
Queen Victoria. made for her coronation |