The Crown Jewels of Iran

Sep 29, 2026

A historical introduction to Iran’s Crown Jewels presents them as the world’s richest, most dazzling single collection, tracing how successive Iranian dynasties gathered, preserved, and transferred these gems. It recounts early records from the Sassanids, the disruptions after the Arab conquest, and the Safavid period’s wealth-building through inheritance, mines, gifts, war spoils, and purchases. Later invasions and political upheavals disperse the treasures, including journeys to India and gifts abroad.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryLiterature

FormatPDF

Pages60

Reading Time1 h 32 min

AccessFree to download

Preface

Overview of the jewels’ significance

Early records and the Arab conquest

Safavid collection and foreign accounts

Places beyond the treasury

How the treasures were amassed

Loss, plunder, and dispersal

wels The Crown Jewels of Iran □AMK HARKRZIIE published by BANK MARKAZI IRAN(THE CENTRAL BANK OF IRAN)Tehran 1973 https://archive.org/details/crownjewelofiran0000unse # PREFACE According to eminent contemporary minera-logists and gemmologists,the Crown Jewels ofIran are the richest and most dazzling singlecollection of jewels in the world. The invaluable Treasury has a fascinatinghistory that goes back several centuries.The jewelshave been collected by numerous kings and con-querors who sometimes went to great lengths toobtain them and were so elated by their possessionthat some of them had their names,together withdates,engraved on certain big-size gems.Todaythese inscriptions constitute more accurate his-torical records than the voluminous literature onthe subject,most of which often lacks precision. The earliest records of the latter kind are ofthe courts of the Sassanid monarchs,about 13centuries ago,notably from the reign of KhosrowParviz(590-628 A.D.).When in the middle of the7th century the Arabs conquered Iran,defeatingKhosrow's grandson Yazdegerd II,they foundsuch wealth as has rarely been seen in history.Oneexample has been repeatedly quoted of the im-mense 180-foot long jewel-encrusted carpet cover-ing the main hall of the Ctesiphon palace,whichwas cut into fragments and distributed among thesoldiers after a major portion had been reservedfor some of the leaders.One tiny fragment is saidto have been sold then for 20,000 drachmas. It is only since the Safavid period(1501-1736)that we have reliable sources of information con-cerning the collection.It was in this period thatIran found herself once again united into a coherent mighty force and able to embark onsuccessive conquests.The most important figureof the Safavid dynasty was Shah Abbas the Greatwho established political as well as economic rela-tions with the great powers of Europe and Asia.Besides being a great soldier and administrator,Shah Abbas was a lover of jewels,and as thecountry grew rich,his collection of jewellery grewto dimensions unprecedented ever before.Foreignenvoys,travellers and gem-dealers(Anthony Jen-kinson,the Shirley brothers,George Mainwaring,Jean-Baptiste Tavernier,Chevalier Chardin)whovisited the courts of Shah Tahmasp(1524-76),Shah Abbas the Great(1587-1629),Shah Safi I(1629-42)and Shah Abbas I(1642-66),have leftglowing accounts of their voyages.They givedetailed descriptions of the immense riches theysaw there in the form of bejewelled thrones,crownsharnesses and kitchen utensils.Tavernier andChardin,both famous jewellers and connoisseursof gems,have in addition,given sketches of severalpieces of jewellery and of some famous stones.Itwas only recently,however,that a scientific studyof the jewels was made by a team of scientists fromthe Royal Ontario Museum of Toronto,resultingin the publication of an illustrated volume entitled“The Crown Jewels of Iran”. The gems which so fascinated the 16th and17th century visitors were not only to be found inthe treasury chests but also in such unlikely placesas the royal kitchens,the stables,the Abdarkhaneh(rooms where refreshments and the kalyan orhubble-bubble were prepared)and the Zindar- khaneh or the building where the royal saddles andharnesses were kept.It is said that the Abdar-khaneh alone had four thousand gold and gemmedvessels. The Safavid treasures were amassed in the fol-lowing ways: 1.A part was inherited from preceding gene-rations. 2.Another part was obtained from the minesof Khorassan and Turkistan or,in the caseof the pearls,procured from the PersianGulf. 3.A third part consisted of gifts or offeringsmade by foreign monarchs and local rulers. 4.Yet another part was spoils of war. 5.Finally,a number of gems were broughtinto the country and sold by travellingjewellers or bought by envoys of the Shahswho visited the markets of India,Constan-tinople and Venice in order to find therarest and most valuable jewels and bringthem to the capital,then i

FAQs

Why are the Crown Jewels of Iran considered uniquely valuable?

They are described as the richest and most dazzling single collection of jewels in the world, with a history spanning centuries and remarkable accumulation by many rulers.

What sources of information make the Safavid period especially important?

Reliable information is said to begin in the Safavid period, supported by accounts from foreign envoys, travellers, and gem-dealers who visited the Safavid court.

How did the Safavid treasures accumulate?

They were gathered through inheritance, acquisition from mines and the Persian Gulf for pearls, gifts from foreign monarchs and local rulers, war spoils, and purchases or deliveries by travelling jewellers and envoys.

Sep 29, 2026

Uploaded by Emma Wilson