THE KAŞIKÇI DIAMOND:
The pear-shaped 86-carat Kaşikçi Diamond is among the largest in the world. Its origin is not certainly known. Legend attributes its name (the Spoonmaker's -or Spoonse9ler's Diamond) to its sale by a pauper who was unaware of its value to a merchant in return for a few wooden spoons.
However, the consensus of the experts is that the Kaşikçi Diamond is in fact the "Pigot" Diamond named after an officer of the French army who is known to have bought a diamond of similar dimensions and shape in India in 1774. The Pigot Diamond could be traced, after numerous owners, to Napoleon Bonaparte's mother and then to an Ottoman governor.
Since the Kaşikçi Diamond was transferred to the Ottoman treasury among the treasure of governor Tepedeienli Ali Paşa, who was executed in the 1840's after conviction for rebellion against the state, it is highly probable that the Kaşikçi and Pigot diamonds are the same.
The beautiful, specially cut Kaşikçi Diamond is surrounded by 49 smaller pieces of diamond embedded in gold in two rows.
The Kasikci Diamond in Topkapi Palace
THE THRONE:
This throne, made and presented to Sultan Mahmut I during the 18th century, is a masterpiece of Turko-Indian art. It is actually a portable throne dismountable into 223 pieces. The most outstanding feature of the throne, even surpassing the multitude of emeralds, rubies and pearls used to form the motifs of spring flowers, is the excellence of the gold inlay and enamel work rated by some as the ultimate in these techniques.
Now the largest item being exhibited in the fourth room of The Topkapi Palace Treasury, the throne has a footstool and a beautifully embroidered cushion as accessories.
A Sultans Throne
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