The stories of Indian princes and their jewelry and precious stones are brought together in this illustrated narrative tracing the rise and fall of India's leading royal houses through the dramatic fortunes of their crown jewels. Traditionally, precious metals and jewels have been, for Indians rich and poor, a repository of wealth and a status symbol. For the reigning families, jewels also had symbolic and religious significance.
Also here are the original drawings by great European jewelers of the pieces they designed for their exotic and demanding clients. The text is both lively and scholarly, drawing from descriptions of such travelers as Marco Polo and Tavernier as well as Sanskrit dramatists extolling the riches of India.
From Library Journal :
For a nation with a dismal economy, India has enormous gold reserves in the personal jewelry of the vast majority of the Indian people. However, the authors of this well-documented and beautifully illustrated volume focus on the jewelry of Indian maharajas and royalty, who saw it as a source of power and prestige. The six chapters span several thousand years, from Mughal times to the present, covering tales of untold riches and a history of exploitation by the Portuguese, Dutch, and British, who exported precious gems and jewelry to the royal houses of Europe. Following India's independence from Britain, most of these treasures disappeared or went underground. Now this jewelry is once again on view in this spectacular work, highlighting the renowned Baroda pearls, Indore pears, and Arcot diamonds as well as creations by Boucheron, Cartier, Garrard, Harry Winston, and Van Cleef & Arpels. Weaving together mystery, intrigue, symbolism, and astrology, this fascinating book is a welcome addition to any library collecting books on jewelry. Stephen Allan Patrick, East Tennessee State Univ. Lib., Johnson City

• Trefwoorden
  sieraden, kroonjuwelen
• Geografisch trefwoord
  India
• Persoonstrefwoord
  E.E. Gerritse