Читать книгу Art in Theory - Группа авторов - Страница 36

The Peacock Throne was the pre‐eminent symbol of Mughal power in India. It was commissioned by Shah Jahan around 1635 and located in the Red Fort in the capital Delhi. It was used for audiences granted by the Mughal leader to visiting dignitaries. Historians have ascertained that expenditure on the throne exceeded that on the Taj Mahal. The present description of it is by Jean‐Baptiste Tavernier, a French merchant in gems and jewellery in the service of Louis XIV who undertook no fewer than six journeys to the East during the mid‐seventeenth century. Other slightly variant descriptions exist, including one by a Mughal contemporary Abdul Hamid Lahori. No visual representation of the throne has been preserved. As their power declined over the following century, the Mughals were beset by a variety of enemies: the Hindu Maratha states, and not least the British, but in 1739 it was their defeat by the Persian emperor Nadir Shah which spelled the end for the Peacock Throne. It was taken back to Persia as spoils of war and subsequently lost in the political confusion of the mid‐eighteenth century, probably dismantled and its precious metals and gems put to other use. As witness the Spanish in South America (cf. IB3–6), conquerors tended not to value the material culture of those they conquered as cultural artefacts or art. Various replicas, or semi‐replicas, were made of the Peacock Throne. One, in Persia, became the very symbol of the Persian monarchy, another, in India itself, was lost during the First War of Independence (the ‘Mutiny’) in 1857, when the British looted the Red Fort. The seventeenth‐century original exists only in a few descriptions, of which Tavernier’s is the most extensive. The extracts are from Chapter 8 of the Second Book of Indian Travels, in the English translation of Tavernier’s French original (it was also translated into German, Dutch and Italian), published as The Six Voyages of John Baptista Tavernier … through Turky into Persia and the East Indies, London 1678, pp. 122–3.

Of the preparations against the feast of the Great Mogul, when he is weighed solemnly every year. Of the richness of his thrones, and the magnificence of his court.

This great feast begins the fourth of November, and lasts five days. They usually weigh the king at the time of his birth; and if he weighs more than he did the year before, there is great rejoicing. When he is weighed he seats himself upon the richest of his thrones; and then all the grandees of the kingdom come to congratulate him and present him. The ladies of the court send him their presents also, as likewise do the governors of provinces, and others in great employments. The presents consist of Jewels, Tissues, Carpets and other Stuffs; besides Camels, Elephants, Horses, and indeed any thing that is rare and of value. ’Tis said he receives that day thirty millions of livres.

They begin to prepare for this feast the seventh of September, about two months before it begins. The first thing they do, is to cover the two great Courts overhead, from the middle of each Court to the Hall, which is upon three sides. The Pavilions that cover these two void places are of Purple Velvet, Embroider’d with Gold, and so weighty, that the Posts which sustain them are as big as the mast of a ship; some thirty, some forty foot high. There are thirty‐eight of these posts to uphold the Tent in the first Court; and those next the Hall, are plated with Gold as thick as a Ducket. The rest are plated with silver of the same thickness. The Cords are of Cotton of divers colours; some of them as big as a good cable. […]

The Great Mogul has seven thrones, some set all over with Diamonds; others with Rubies, Emeralds, and Pearls.

The largest Throne, which is set up in the hall of the first Court, is in form like one of our Field‐Beds, six foot long, and four broad. The Cushion at the back is round like a Bolster; the Cushions on the sides are flat.

I counted about a hundred and eight pale Rubies in Collets, about this Throne, the least whereof weighed a hundred Carats; but there are some that weigh two hundred. Emeralds I counted about a hundred and sixty, that weighed some threescore, some thirty Carats.

The under‐part of the Canopy is all embroidered with Pearls and Diamonds, with a Fringe of Pearls round about. Upon the top of the Canopy, which is made like an Arch with four panes, stands a Peacock, with his tail spread, consisting all of Saphirs, and other proper coloured Stones; the Body is of beaten Gold, enchased with several Jewels; and a great Ruby upon his breast at which hangs a Pearl, that weighs fifty Carats. On each side of the Peacock stand two nosegays, as high as the Bird, consisting of several sorts of Flowers, all of beaten Gold enamelled. When the King seats himself upon the Throne, there is a transparent Jewel, with a Diamond appendant, of eighty or ninety Carats, encompassed with Rubies and Emraulds, so hung that it is always in his eye. The twelve Pillars also that uphold the Canopy, are set with rows of fair Pearl, round, and of an excellent Water, that weigh from six to ten Carats apiece. At the distance of four feet, upon each side of the Throne are placed two Parasols, or Umbrellos, the handles whereof are about eight foot high, covered with Diamonds; the Parasols themselves are of crimson Velvet, embroidered and fringed with Pearls.

This is the famous Throne which Tamerlane began, and Cha‐jehan finished; which is really reported to have cost a hundred and sixty Millions, and five hundred‐thousand Livres of our Money.