From chokers, sarpenchs and karan phools to pazebs, naths and satladas – around 173 precious jewels and jewellery items from the collection of the Nizams of Hyderabad are on display at the National Museum.
This was one of the questions raised during a recent talk on the life and riches of Hyderabad’s erstwhile rulers.
The wealth and lavish lifestyle of the Nizams of Hyderabad is well documented, with their magnificent jewellery collection a subject of mystery and intrigue. This was the focus of historian and curator Deepthi Sasidharan’s talk at a Mumbai museum recently.
During the talk, Sasidharan deconstructed the early photographs available from the era, chronicling the life and times of the court and its occupants. The jewels and the sartorial choices of those in the photographs were discussed. At the end of the 45-minute talk, the images prompted two questions.
The exhibition, titled ‘Jewels of India – The Nizam’s Jewellery Collection’ is being showcased in Delhi after 12 years. One: What was the source of the wealth of the Nizams? Two: How did their jewellery collection compare with that of the Jaipur royals, who were also connoisseurs of elaborate craftsmanship?
Britain's Prince Charles, Prince of Wales and Britain's Queen Elizabeth II participate in an event to commemorate the 75th anniversary of D-Day, in Portsmouth, Britain.
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Sasidharan’s response to the former can be summarised as geographic advantage. “They [Nizams] benefited from their location, which was at the intersection of some important trade routes. Sea trade also helped,” she said.
The second question was harder to answer. According to Sasidharan, unless members of both families share data on their collection, it is hard to make a definitive statement. But, according to her, the quantity of the Nizam collection (almost 7,000 pieces, as per documentation) makes the Hyderabad collection incomparable.
Glitter, Gold And More: Najmat Taiba And Other Jewellery That Made Headlines
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By Viandra D'souza
The world’s largest gold ring according to the Guinness Book of Records, the Najmat Taiba, will be on display in Sharjah in June.
The 21-carat Najmat Taiba weighs 64 kg, and is studded with five lakh diamonds and precious stones, as well as 615 Swarovski crystals
Take a look at other jewellery pieces that made headlines with their size.
(Image: www.dubaicity.com)
By Viandra D'souza
The world’s largest gold ring according to the Guinness Book of Records, the Najmat Taiba, will be on display in Sharjah in June.
The 21-carat Najmat Taiba weighs 64 kg, and is s..
Read More
It may not have been the largest necklace, but it made news for its centrepiece — the biggest-ever D-flawless diamond to be up for auction. In 2017, ‘The Art of de GRISOGONO’ emerald and diamond necklace fetched $33.7 million at a Christie’s auction in Geneva. The exquisite necklace, made by Swiss jeweller de Grisogono, had a 163-carat diamond at its centre. The necklace went to an anonymous buyer. It took a team of 14 craftsmen working for over 1,700 hours to create the piece.
(Image: www.christies.com)
It may not have been the largest necklace, but it made news for its centrepiece — the biggest-ever D-flawless diamond to be up for auction. In 2017, ‘The Art of de GRISOGONO’ emerald and diamond neck..
Read More
Visitors were awestruck at the sight of a 24 kg gold bangle on display in 2008, when GoldPlus, a jewellery division of Titan, unveiled the massive ornament in Erode. Thirty craftsmen in Hosur worked for 21 days on the piece, with a circumference of 1,830 mm. The 22-carat, 140 mm-wide bangle made it to the Limca Book of Records for its size.
Visitors were awestruck at the sight of a 24 kg gold bangle on display in 2008, when GoldPlus, a jewellery division of Titan, unveiled the massive ornament in Erode. Thirty craftsmen in Hosur worked ..
Read More
In 2015, a ring with the largest pink diamond was auctioned by Christie’s in Geneva and sold to a Hong Kong billionaire businessman Joseph Lau for $28.5 million. Named ‘Sweet Josephine’ after Lau’s then seven-year-old daughter Josephine, the ring is set with a cushion-shaped fancy vivid pink diamond, weighing approximately 16.08 carats, surrounded by more diamonds and mounted in platinum and gold. Billionaire Lau, a convicted felon and fugitive, bought a blue diamond the next day from Sotheby’s, naming it the Blue Moon of Josephine Diamond. It was speculated that Lau was laundering money with these purchases.
(Image: www.sothebys.com)
In 2015, a ring with the largest pink diamond was auctioned by Christie’s in Geneva and sold to a Hong Kong billionaire businessman Joseph Lau for $28.5 million. Named ‘Sweet Josephine’ after Lau’s t..
Read More
In 2011, Romanian jewellery designer and Arizonian resident, Adrian Ionel Haiduc, used crystals, gemstones, beads and pearls to create a super-sized earring. Haiduc sewed it all painstakingly onto a silk string, creating the longest earring at 472.66 metres. It earned a spot in the World Record Academy.
(Image: www.worldrecordacademy.com)
In 2011, Romanian jewellery designer and Arizonian resident, Adrian Ionel Haiduc, used crystals, gemstones, beads and pearls to create a super-sized earring. Haiduc sewed it all painstakingly onto a ..
Read More
A hundred people and 45 days. That’s how long it took for the city of gold to fashion the longest chain, as part of the 20th anniversary of the Dubai Shopping Festival in 2015. Work on the 5.522-km length, 256 kg heavy gold chain was split up between Siroya Jewellers, Malabar Gold and Diamonds, Sky Jewellery, Joyalukkas and Emerald Jewellers. It took up the Deira Gold Souk bus station when it went on public display, quickly making a place for itself in the Guinness Book.
(www.guinnessworldrecords.com)
A hundred people and 45 days. That’s how long it took for the city of gold to fashion the longest chain, as part of the 20th anniversary of the Dubai Shopping Festival in 2015. Work on the 5.522-km l..
