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The original Peacock
Throne, called Takht-e Tâvus (Persian: تخت طاووس), was
built for the Mughal emperor Shah Jahan in the early
17th century.
The name comes from the shape of the throne, having the
figures of two peacocks standing behind it, their tails
being expanded and the whole so inlaid with sapphires,
rubies, emeralds, pearls and other precious stones of
appropriate colors as to represent life. The famous
Koh-i-noor diamond was placed in this throne.
The throne was seized along with other plunder when the
Iranian conqueror Nader Shah captured Delhi in 1739.
Before leaving India, he had a divan made in the same
style and brought both Peacock Thrones back to Iran,
only to lose both in warfare with the Kurds, who
apparently dismantled them and distributed the precious
stones and metals.
Later Peacock Thrones or divans (probably reproductions)
were made for subsequent shahs, notably Fath Ali Shah.
The dazzling chair-like throne used by the two Pahlavi
Shāhs at their coronations (1926, 1941) was a
reproduction dating from the Qājār dynasty.
The beauty of peacock feathers is the inspiration for
this piece woven to resemble the dramatic “eye” of the
peacock tail. To further accentuate the peacock design,
the Swarovski crystals have the peacock eye design
coated on them giving its name to the colour of this
crystal. Embracing the peacock eye crystals are high
quality Czech dagger embellishments that also have the
peacock eye design printed.
Layers upon layers of peacock pattern. The fan shaped
embellishments further reinforces the peacock theme of
the piece. A romantic, graceful, bold and dramatic
piece. Although complex and intricate looking, this
piece is in fact easily put together by anyone with some
knowledge of peyote bead-weaving. |
