INDIA: Rare and spectacular exhibition of the jewels of Nizam the erstwhile rulers of southern Hyderabad attracts hordes of visitors

Record ID: 1374314

  • Title: INDIA: Rare and spectacular exhibition of the jewels of Nizam the erstwhile rulers of southern Hyderabad attracts hordes of visitors
  • Date: 4th February 2006
  • Summary: (L!3) HYDERABAD, INDIA (FEBRUARY 01, 2006) (ANI) WIDE VIEW EXTERIOR OF SALARJUNG MUSEUM; ARMED POLICEMEN GUARDING ENTRANCE TO MUSEUM; PEOPLE IN MUSEUM CAMPUS; GROUP OF WOMEN ENTERING MUSEUM; MORE OF PEOPLE ENTERING (5 SHOTS) ARMED POLICEMEN AT ENTRANCE TO HALL WHERE THE NIZAM'S JEWELS ARE DISPLAYED; VISITORS LOOKING AT THE ENCASED JEWELS; WOMAN LOOKING AT JEWELS; ARMBANDS AND EARRING WORN BY THE NIZAM QUEENS; NECKLACE; BUTTON; ANOTHER NECKLACE; BROACH WOMAN LOOKING; LAYERED NECKLACE; DIAMOND RING; THE JACOB DIAMOND, AT 184.75-CARAT IT IS SAID TO BE THE WORLD'S NINTH LARGEST BILLED AT $84.89 MILLION; PEOPLE LOOKING AT DIAMOND; MORE OF VISITORS; DIAMOND ANKLETS (SOUNDBITE) (English) A. N. REDDY, DIRECTOR IN-CHARGE, SALARJUNG MUSEUM, SAYING: "Until today almost 60,000 visitors have seen the jewellery and almost 600 foreign visitors. So, compared to last time, when we displayed in 2001 almost it is balanced with last year's response which I feel a good response, what we expected." FOREIGN VISITORS LOOKING AT THE EXHIBITS; VISITOR BROWSES THROUGH CATALOGUE OF JEWELLERY; MORE OF PEOPLE CROWDING AROUND AN EXHIBIT (SOUNDBITE) (English) SOURABH KISHORE, A VISITOR FROM NEW DELHI, SAYING: "This is a fabulous collection of jewels. Nobody could imagine that before coming to this place. It is just tremendous. I just came here on a one day trip but I wanted to make sure that I get to see Nizam's collection of jewels" PHOTOGRAPHER TAKING PICTURES; CLOSE UP DIAMOND BROOCH; MORE OF VISITOR
  • Embargoed: 19th February 2006 06:38
  • Keywords:
  • Location: India
  • Country: India
  • Topics: History,Light / Amusing / Unusual / Quirky
  • Reuters ID: LVA3PHK9CCHMB64331GFWCULKRR1
  • Aspect Ratio: 4:3
  • Story Text: A rare and spectacular exhibition of the jewels of Nizam, the erstwhile rulers of southern Hyderabad attracts hordes of visitors eager to get a peek at what is believed to be one of the largest and richest collection of jewels in the world.
    The jewels ranging from 18th century to the early 20th century were once housed in the opulent palace of the last Nizam of the princely Muslim state, which acceded to the Indian union after British colonialists quit the continent in 1947.
    The rare collection is said to be worth over 2 billion rupees and consists of necklaces dripping with emeralds and pearls, turban ornaments and scabbards studded with precious stones.
    The dazzling exhibit of the 173-piece collection on display in Hyderabad's Salarjung museum opened in January and is scheduled to go on until the end of this month. It was last exhibited in the city four years back.
    A.N.Reddy. Director In-charge, Salarjung Museum said that the response so far has been fantastic, living up to expectations.
    "Until today almost 60,000 visitors have seen the jewellery and almost 600 foreign visitors. So, comparative to last time, when we displayed in 2001 almost it is parallel with last year's response which I feel a good response, what we expected," he said.
    Amidst tight security of armed security personnel, visitors moved around the museum viewing the breathtakingly beautiful array of jewellery encased in glass enclosures for all to see.
    The centrepiece of the collection, the Jacob diamond, said to be ninth largest in the world, was acquired by the sixth Nizam who developed an aversion to wearing jewels after his purchase.
    The seventh and last Nizam of Hyderabad found the duck-egg-sized diamond hidden in his father's slippers and used it as a paperweight.
    The 184.75-carat diamond said to be worth four billion rupees (84.89 million U.S. dollars), is about twice the size of the Kohinoor and was named after Alexander Jacob, the Nizam's mysterious confidante immortalised by Kipling in the book Kim as Lurgan Sahib, a British agent.
    Sourabh Kishore, a visitor from New Delhi awed by the collection, said the exhibition was something not to be missed.
    "This is a fabulous collection of jewels. Nobody could imagine that before coming to this place. It is just tremendous. I just came here on a one day trip but I wanted to make sure that I get to see Nizam's collection of jewels," he said.
    A stunning belt encrusted with over 245 diamonds weighing more than 640 carats is also part of the display.
    Another highlight of the treasure is a ring made of Alexandrite, one of the world's rarest gems, that changes colour from emerald green in natural light to a brownish red in artificial light.
    The display also has a collection of elaborate sarpechs or turban ornaments, worn by Indian princes as a mark of high distinction since they could not wear crowns after Queen Victoria became the empress of India in 1857.
    The real jewel in the crown is a delicate paisley-shaped sarpech encrusted with large Colombian emeralds set amidst a virtual garden of diamonds. The weight of the sarpech's six emeralds drops alone is estimated at over 300 carats.
    The glittering array is still an enduring reflection of the extravagance and opulence of Indian maharajahs who loved to flaunt their fabulous jewels. The treasure trove, includes a seven-stringed pearl necklace with more than 370 stones.
    Legend has it that the earlier Nizams had the habit of adorning their slaves with such necklaces so that their body oils would give the pearls an extra shine.
    In 1995, after a long legal battle, the government bought the collection for 2.18 billion rupees (88.72 million USD) although local newspapers speculated its real worth could be between 30 billion and 100 billion rupees.
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