Dazzling jewelery collection of the Nizam family - displayed at the Delhi exhibition (2019)


The Nizam jewelry.wionews.com

The Nizam jewelry. deccanchronicle.com

 ''His exalted highness Riistom-l-Duaran, Arastu-E-Zaman, Wal Mamalik, Asif fah, Nawab Mir Osman Ali Khan Bahadur, Muzaffar-VI-Mulk, Nizam-Al-Mud. Sipahsalaar, Fateh Jung, the seventh Nizam of Hyderabad was created by providence just to offer mankind a spectacle, a dazzling vision of marble palaces, tigers, elephants and jewels''.................-Rudyard Kipling

The Nizam Asaf Jah was the ruler of the Hyderabad Princely State, now divided into Telangana state, part Karnataka region of Karnataka an dpart  Marathwada region of Maharashtra. The 
title Nizam which is the short form of  Nizam-ul-Mulk, (meaning Administrator of the Realm)  was inherited by Asaf Jah I, the viceroy of the Great Moghul in the Deccan  in Mughal India in 1724. He was  the founder of the "Nizam of Hyderabad" and the Asaf Jahi dynasty that ruled it till 1948. Way back, the 7th Nizam - Osman Ali Khan, Asaf Jah VII was the  richest person in the world and  was known to have the finest collection of expensive jewelry in the world, besides owning a large fleet of expensive cars like Rolls Royce, etc., and many impressive palaces and buildings. Often tagged as 'miserly', personally, he  lived a simple life. Even today, whenever his expensive jewels are on display in the museums, connoisseurs  of valuable jewelry never fail to visit them. Fabulously rich with keen eyes, he had excellent aesthetic sense and  obsession for artistic work, be they jewels or buildings
 

Way back starting in  February, 2019 an  exhibition titled, ''Jewels of India: The Nizam's Jewellery Collection''  was held  till May 2019  at the National Museum in New Delhi;  It happened to be the third one; last one was held 12 years ago.  Perhaps people of Delhi would not  have seen such a dazzling exhibition of enduring and astounding variety of jewels that may take you absolutely by surprise. Seeing a vast collection of expensive  jewelry in one place  from the personal collection of the last and 7th Nizam  Nawab Mir Osman Ali Khan (ruled from 1724 to 1948) and his eldest son Azam Jah was a treat to the eye. On display were  173 exceptional pieces of jewellery once belonging to the Nizams of Hyderabad. Experts are of the view these gleaming  jewellery represents the culture, elegance, lifestyle and fashion of erstwhile Hyderabad.

7th Nizam - Osman Ali Khan, Asaf Jah VII .ndtv.com

Way back in in 1978 when 
the Nizam's jewels -  some of them were put up for sale  worldwide attention was focused on the  jewels . The sale what was hailed as "the auction of the century" never took place.  Considering their heritage, antique and cultural values, the Indian government was ready to buy them, Because of bureaucratic bottleneck purchase by the government got delayed, causing hardship to the Nizam family. It it was  after  pretty long negotiations lasting more than two decades  with the royal family post the death of the last Nizam (1967) and his eldest son, the Union Government bought the entire collection  for a sum of over Rs 217 crore in 1995.  One of the most precious private collections of jewellery in the world it had been in the  vaults of the Hong Kong and Shanghai Bank in Bombay for  a long time prior to that.  The present value can not be determined, considering their superb quality, workmanship, age etc., and their legacy of  two hundred years of Deccan history and the Nizam rule. Simply finest pieces of jewelry not only in India but across the globe dating back to 18th and early 20th century. The very first exhibition was held in 2001 at the the National Museum, Delhi and later in 2007.

The visitors were baffled by an array of fine jewelry that included
necklaces, gold belts, sarpeches (a turban ornament), and gold and stone studded buckles, bracelets,  bangles, earrings, armlets, toe rings, anklets finger rings, a pocket watch and watch chains, buttons and cuff links. All these were made in the by-gone years.

Below presented some of the impressive jewels:

Kanthi Almas Kanval:
 
Kanthi Almas Kanval -- Gold necklace set with diamonds .telegraphindia.com

 Kanthi Almas Kanval is a gold necklace, European in design . It is set with  diamonds in a nice  pattern with large circular and oval diamonds in the middle surrounded by smaller diamonds and a pear-shaped diamond hanging from the middle. The chain is  embedded with a series of diamonds;  the clasp is a large rectangular diamond; the diamonds are set in such a way they dazzle when the light hits on them; late 19th-20th century,Weight: 128gm. 

Jacob Diamond:

The Imperial (Jacob) Diamond .telegraphindia.com

The Imperial (Jacob) Diamond from
the Kimberly mines of South Africa (late 19th century) originally weighed roughly 457.5 carats. Later it  was cut to the present size, now weighing 184.50 carats; it is the 7th largest diamond of the world. The sixth Nizam, Mehboob Ali Pasha got it from Alexander Malcolm Jacob, a jeweller. Because of a legal wrangle, the ruler stashed it in a drawer, wrapped in an old rag and never paid attention to it. Years later Nizam Osman Ali Khan ran into the diamond and used it as a paper weight and, at last, fixed it in a gold base. A highly valuable  stone in his vast collection.


 Sarpech - turban ornament:

Sarpech-Gold turban ornament with emeralds,diamonds,etc .telegraphindia.com

 Sarpech Khurd Zamarrud Wa Kanval Almas: Normally, Indian Maharajahs and Nawabs used to wear  expensive turban and matching gold ornament on it. This sarpech bears testimony to the extravagant and affluent lifestyle of Asaf Jah. Gold turban ornament set with emeralds, diamonds and emerald drops.  An amazing  turban ornament with a table-cut emerald in the center surrounded by uncut diamonds, this sarpech is set in gold and is decorated with square, rectangle, round and oval emeralds (from Columbia) matched for their color, luster and purity along with emerald drops;19th century. Weight: 130 gm.

 Kanthi Dolna
Kanthi Dolna -diamond beads necklace strung with pearls .
telegraphindia.com


Kanthi Dolna Almas Wa Mothi: This amazing  necklace consists of
three rows of pearls alternating with sizeable diamond beads  strung together with a taveez-shaped diamond in the centre. The 57 diamonds together weigh almost 220 carats. It is known for its workmanship. Such threaded diamonds with pearls were often draped around turbans; 19th century. Weight: 93gm.
 
Hansli Parab Mai.... :

Hansli Parab .Gold necklace with diamonds and emerald drops.
telegraphindia.com

Hansli Parab Mai Aweeza Zamarrud: Gold necklace set with diamonds and emerald drops; enameled on both sides.  Shaped as a  circular collar, this necklace has encased diamonds decorated with emerald drops. Similar to the jewel - ''hansli'' worn in North and NW region of India. The unique feature is open latticed design  with enamelling - a typical Indian design quite common in Jaipur. The necklace has 13 large uncut diamonds set in gold in the kundan style, surrounded by smaller gems.The rear of the necklace and the clasp is also set with diamonds 19th century. Weight: 310 gm.

Baglus Almas:
Baglus Almas --Gold buckle set with diamonds.telegraphindia.com

The Baglus Almas is an adjustable  belt buckle made of gold and inlaid with large and small diamonds in a floral pattern. The diamonds are set in the kundan style. The buckle is made of three pieces joined together. It  can be adjusted to fit the waist of the wearer. The reverse of the buckle is also covered with sheet gold carved with floral motifs; a typical  Deccan workmanship. Adopted to western-style dressing in the later period, the rulers started wearing belts head gear, etc displaying their rich ornaments; late 18th century.Weight: 252 gm.

Tora Paon Jaravi Almas.... 

Tora Paon Jaravi Almas ...telegraphindia.com

Tora Paon Jaravi Almas Yakhot Zamarrud: This set of anklets or tora  designed like  a snake is made of gold and is inlaid with precious gems such as Golconda diamonds, Burmese rubies and Columbian emeralds. The tora was designed to be worn tightly around the ankle, often accompanied by other anklets or payals.  The anklets are made up of multiple pieces joined together to enhance the flexibility of the ornaments for  ease wearing; 19th century. Weight: 790 gm.

'The jewels, now in the custody of the Indian government are kept at the Reserve Bank of India. The jewels were part of the assets of  exclusive Nizam  trusts. In March 1951, HEH the Nizam’s Jewellery Trust was created and it took over 103 items including state regalia; in February 1952, HEH the Nizam’s Supplemental Jewellery. Photo credit and details: telegraphindia.com
https://www.deccanchronicle.com/nation/current-affairs/120119/clamour-for-hyderabad-nizam-jewellery-return.htmlhttps://www.telegraphindia.com/culture/heritage/nizam-s-jewellery-worth-billions-on-display/cid/1685240 Jewellery Nizam National Museum
https://www.thenewsminute.com/article/rare-golconda-diamonds-and-mughal-artefacts-be-auctioned-new