Ambika Soni opens Delhi exhibition on Nizams jewellery

Union Minister for Culture and Tourism, Ambika Soni, today said that the Experts Committee appointed by the Ministry of Culture to make suggestions for improvement of the museums in the country had submitted its report and the Government is examining the same.

New Delhi, Sept.26 : Union Minister for Culture and Tourism, Ambika Soni, today said that the Experts' Committee appointed by the Ministry of Culture to make suggestions for improvement of the museums in the country had submitted its report and the Government is examining the same.

Inaugurating an exhibition of Nizams' Jewellery at the National Museum here, Soni said, there is an urgent need to change the profile of museums.

Because of the paucity of space, existing museums are able to display only 10 percent of their treasures, she said, adding that efforts should be made to set up more museums in the country. he also called upon the museum fraternity to involve youth and students in museum activities in a big way. For this, the museums have to adopt a new style of presentation, the minister added.

Dr. Karan Singh, Chairman, Indian Council for Cultural Relations in his address complemented the National Museum for organizing this exhibition.

He said the museums should be more 'interactive' for the benefit of the techno-savvy new generation. Dr. Singh said the museums have an important role to play to provide an insight into our Archaeological and Cultural Heritage.

The collection comprising 173 precious jewels and jewellery items of exquisite workmanship covers a period ranging from 18th century to the early 20th century. It includes sarpeches, necklaces, belts and buckles, pairs of bracelets and bangles, earrings, armlets, toe rings, finger rings, pocket watch and watch chains, buttons and cufflinks, etc.

While the diamonds from the celebrated mines of Golconda and Colombian emeralds predominate, the Burmese rubies and spinels and pearls from Basra and the Gulf of Manar, off the east coast of India, also form part of the exhibition.

The most outstanding among this collection is the Imperial Diamond now known as Jacob Diamond, weighing 184.75 carats, which is a fabulous weight of any single gemstone.

It is an invaluable sparking diamond by all means, be its brilliant cutting, clarity and colour. It is almost double the size of Kohinoor Diamond (in the present shape). Another item is a collection of 22 unset emerald pieces. Also, an exceptionally large variety of cut emeralds, emerald drops, emerald beads, Taveez and many other shapes of Jewellery from Columbia and Russia and two ornamented belts, one studded with a cut and the other with a carved emerald have their own charm. The quantity of emeralds may run into a couple of thousand carats.

The beautiful seven stringed pearl necklace (satlarah) is a unique creation and its weight and size are simply mind-boggling. Besides, many necklaces with button pearls and diamond beads are exceptional for their extraordinary shape and cutting.

Most of the Jadau (stone-studded) items showing large, rose cut and flat cut diamonds total a few thousand carats in weight. Of the many rings with large diamonds of different colours, one set with a Alexandrite stone, perhaps from the famous Russian mines, is of unusually large size bearing testimony to the nature's excellent gift - it changes it colours sparklingly when viewed under artificial light. The collection of pocket watch and watch chains studded with diamonds, emeralds and precious stones are noteworthy for their wide variety and intricate workmanship. It may be pointed out that some excellent enameled works from Jaipur, Delhi, Awadh and Deccan form part of this collection, which is comparable to the designs and details in the miniature paintings of these areas.

The exhibition will remain on view from September 27 onwards.

ANI