Figured I should check it out while I was there, and honestly, I was expecting more. But according to historians Anita Anand and William Dalrymple, that geologist got it all wrong. Post-colonial collections is a big topic everywhere, says Jane Milosch, the director of Smithsonians Provenance Research Initiative. Francis Hopes grandson, Lord Francis Hope, inherited the hope diamond after the family purchased it. In many ancient Indian courts, jewelry rather than clothing was the principle form of adornment and a visible sign of court hierarchy, with strict rules being laid down to establish which rank of courtier could wear which gem in which setting, Dalrymple and Anand write in their book. Little else what happened to it is known, except that it reappeared in England in either 1812 or 1830. Cookie Policy Dutch jeweler Wilhelm Fals was murdered by his son, who then killed himself. She was only a temporary holder of the allegedly cursed gem, and she passed shortly after. A few people believe that Nicholas Fouquet was the ManMan in the Iron Mask, even though no such evidence exists. Take this with a grain of salt, because it's never been proved: Jean-Baptiste Tavernier stole the 115.16 carat blue diamond from a Hindu statue, where it was serving as one of the eyes. Her son died at nine years old, her husband left her for another women, and her 25-year-old daughter died from a drug overdose. It was set in gold and suspended on a neck ribbon which the king wore on ceremonial occasions. While some individuals believe that he was the true ManMan in the Iron Mask, other reports doubt this assertion. Jean-Baptiste Tavernier, a 17th-century French stone merhant, allegedly took the 115.16-carat blue diamond from a Hindu deity, where it was serving as one of the eyes. Several references suggest that it was acquired by King George IV of the United Kingdom. The following are some of the stories, legends, and people who owned the hope diamond: According to the earliest known documentation, the Tavernier Blue diamond was purchased by French gem merchant Jean-Baptiste Tavernier in 1666. People often think of the Hope Diamond as a historical gem. Hope Diamond: The Legendary History of a Cursed Gem. Every day, thousands of visitors to the Smithsonian Natural History Museum crowd around a glass case on the second floor to gaze at the Hope Diamond, one of the world's most famous jewels. To understand where the diamond came fromand whether it could ever go backrequires diving into the murky past, when India was ruled by outsiders: the Mughals. Some of our partners may process your data as a part of their legitimate business interest without asking for consent. An exact reproduction of the specimen is currently on display at the National Museum of Natural History in Washington, DC, in the National Gem and Mineral collection. In 1901 Lord Francis Hope obtained permission from the Court of Chancery and his sisters to sell the stone to help pay off his debts. More than a half centuryafter it was donated to the Smithsonian in 1958, the Hope is still one of the Natural History Museum's most-visited and well-knownartifacts. The Hope Diamond then through many more hands including those of Pierre Cartier and a rich Washington D.C. couple. Because of its enormous size, it has disclosed new facts regarding the formation of diamonds. The crown made its last public appearance in 2002, resting atop of the coffin of the Queen Mother for her funeral. Terms of Use "King Louis XIV was the 'Sun King,' and so this would have been an emblem representing his power," Post says. The replica, though, also raised a question: Why was the French Blue cut into such an uncommon shape? For the next six years, the Hope Diamond will be kept in the safe of Joseph Frankel and Sons. The Hope diamond is one-of-a-kind. It was a diamond worth fighting and killing for, now more than ever. James Todd was the mailman who delivered the Hope Diamond to the Smithsonian. This is one of the most well-known jewelry pieces globally, and for a good reason. After decades of fighting, the diamond returned to India and came into the hands of Sikh ruler Ranjit Singh in 1813, whose particular affection for the gem ultimately sealed its aura of prestige and power. This blue hope diamond, according to research by the institute, had initially been a part of the French Crown jewelry collection but was stolen in 1792. The Hope Diamond, the largest of all blue diamonds, 45.52 carats, exhibited at the National Museum of Natural History. Harry Winston Inc. of New York City purchased Mrs. McLean's entire jewelry collection, including the Hope Diamond, from her estate in 1949. Your Privacy Rights The slightly smaller Hope Diamondwhich we now know was cut from the French Bluewas first documented as being in London in 1812, and became well known when it showed up in the collection catalogue of banker Henry Philip Hope in 1839. The famous Hope is believed to have come from the French blue diamond, which was mined in India and purchased there in 1642 by French traveler and jewel merchant Jean B. Tavernier, who sold it to Louis XVI in 1668. Farges and Post'sintriguing explanation: that the jewelerintended for the center of the stone to serve as a window. Killed by his son, Hendrik. "It speaks to the remarkable power of a gemstone. Research by the author establishes 1812 as the year the diamond reappeared, but in a different, recut form, as its existence was documented then in drawings and descriptions prepared by a lapidary for Daniel Eliason, a diamond merchant in London. It becomes this gemstone like the ring in Lord of the Rings, one ring to rule them all.. If you are interested in reading about other famous thefts, we recommend the History and Headlines article 10 Notorious Thefts, Heists and Robberies.. In 1996, the Hope Diamond was again sent to Harry Winston Inc., in New York, this time for cleaning and some minor restoration work. Lorraine Boissoneault We and our partners use data for Personalised ads and content, ad and content measurement, audience insights and product development. Cookie information is stored in your browser and performs functions such as recognising you when you return to our website and helping our team to understand which sections of the website you find most interesting and useful. News The Hope Diamond The Hope Diamond is a 45.52 carat blue diamond. Once they discovered the gem was missing, the priests put a curse on whoever possessed it and, since the diamonds history goes back to 1666, theres a decent number of people who have owned it. The Inside Story on Diamond Appraisals and Tolerance. For the British, that symbol of prestige and power was irresistible. Color descriptions include fancy dark greyish-blue, dark blue in color, and steely-blue. It has also been described as a fancy dark greyish-blue and dark blue in color. Colorimetric tests have demonstrated that blue diamonds similar to the Hope are grayer (have a lower saturation level) than blue sapphires of the same color. be very helpful" in tracking stolen . At his death, in 1830, the king's debts were so enormous that the blue diamond was likely sold through private channels. Compared to the rest of the stone, the material right in front of the culetat the gem's centerwould have appeared relatively clear and colorless, almost like looking through a glass window. During the French Revolution, it was stolen along with the rest of the Crown Jewels, and although most of the other gems were recoveredby French officials, the famous French Blue disappeared. For a century after the creation of the Peacock Throne, the Mughal Empire retained its supremacy in India and beyond. Here they all are, in chronological order: Records from the 17th century arent the most reliable sources of information, so he either died at the ripe old age of 84, or he contracted a high fever after stealing the diamond, died, and had his corpse ravaged by wolves. The ship's owner, Sir Cosmo Duff Gordon, had insured the diamonds for 1 million (over $7 million today), but the insurers refused to pay out, claiming that the diamonds were lost when the ship went down. In 1749, it was stolen during the French Revolution and ended up in the hands of an English jeweler. During the French Revolution, chaos reigned in France, and the royal family was confined. He also suffered a head injury in a separate accident. But wearing the Hope Diamond came at a steep price: First her mother-in-law died, her son died at the age of nine, her husband left her for another woman and later died in a mental hospital, her daughter died of a drug overdose at 25, and she eventually had to sell her newspaper, The Washington Post, and died owing huge debts. TheDiamondAuthority.org is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. If you disable this cookie, we will not be able to save your preferences. According To The Story Ever Since The Diamond Was Stolen From A Hindu Statue The Hope Diamond Has Brought Misfortune To Anyone That Touches It. According to legend, the curse began with the Tavernier Blue, the forerunner to other huge diamonds, including the Hope Diamond, which was discovered later. I saw the Hope Diamond yesterday. In 1962, it was exhibited for a month at the Louvre in Paris, France, as part of an exhibit entitled Ten Centuries of French Jewelry. Rosenau and then resold to Pierre Cartier that same year. ), 10 Things History Got Wrong, Part Five (Movie Edition! Go figure. During the French Revolution, the diamond was taken and recut to its current shape. Evalyn Walsh marries Edward (Ned) McLean, the heir to the riches of the Washington Post newspaper, and they have two children. Harper Perennial, 2007. As Dalrymple and Anand write of the British campaigns, [they] would ultimately annex more territory than all of Napoleons conquests in Europe. In addition to claiming more natural resources and trading posts, the British also had their eye on a piece of priceless treasure: the Koh-i-Noor. One of these secrets was recently discovered byFranois Farges, a professor of mineralogy at theNational d'Histoire Naturellein Paris, andJeffrey Post, the Smithsonian museum'scurator of minerals. The diamond came from India's alluvial mines thousands of years ago, sifted from the sand. The French Blue was passed down to Louis XVI, who wore it during the reign of Marie Antoinette, and we all know what occurred after that! Mrs. McLean died in 1947, and her jewelry collection, including the Hope diamond, was sold to Harry Winston to help settle claims against her estate. The Hope Diamond is a 45.52 carat blue diamond with a cut of emerald. The Hope Diamond has left the Smithsonian only . Drawings of diamonds from The six voyages of John Baptista Tavernier. With no one keeping proper order, thieves were able to steal many of the crown jewels, including le diamant bleu de laCouronne de France(the Blue Diamond of the Crown of France). In 1812, a deep blue diamond described by John Francillion as weighing 177 grains (4 grains = 1 carat) was documented as being in the possession of London diamond merchant, Daniel Eliason. This website uses cookies so that we can provide you with the best user experience possible. If you would like to change your settings or withdraw consent at any time, the link to do so is in our privacy policy accessible from our home page.. Since its discovery in the Kollur mine in seventeenth-century India by Jean-Baptiste. There can be a reassessment for certain objects of, we may have legal ownership, but does it make sense to keep this material? She cites a 2014 case in which the British Museum returned two bronze statues from Benin to Nigeria (they were taken during an attack in 1897 after British officers were killed during a trade mission). Her poor fortune began when her mother-in-law passed away, and her son died when he was nine years old. Stone stolen by his son, Fals is ruined. A bail is soldered to the pendant where Mrs. McLean would often attach other diamonds including the McLean diamond and the Star of the East. According to the earliest known documents, the Tavernier Blue diamond was purchased by French gem merchant Jean-Baptiste Tavernier in 1666. It is commonly assumed that Tavernier acquired the diamond on his last journey to India (1664-1668) and that it came from the Kollur Mine of the Golconda region. In 1839, it was rediscovered in the catalog of a gem collection held by a family of London bankers known as the Hopes. He and Dalrymple both point out that the rulers who once owned these gemstones headed nations that no longer exist. The blue jewel will also be worn on special occasions by Nicolas Fouquet ( he was the finance supervisor under the rule of King Louis XIV). Shortly thereafter, his leg was crushed in a truck accident. While Victoria wore the diamond as a brooch, it eventually became part of the Crown Jewels, first in the crown of Queen Alexandra (the wife of Edward VII, Victorias oldest son) and then in the crown of Queen Mary (the wife of George V, grandson of Victoria). Anand and Dalrymple only hope that their work will do some good by clarifying the true path the infamous gemstone followedand helping leaders come to their own conclusions about what to do with it next. | Cartier had the diamond reset and took it to the U.S. where he left it with Mrs. McLean for a weekend. This ManMan served for King Louis XIV and is claimed to have donned the diamond on one of his royal engagements. Its origin story is most likely complete bullshit: it's said that the original stone it was cut from, the 115.6 carat Tavernier Blue diamond, was stolen from a sacred a Hindu statue by French gem merchant Jean-Baptiste Tavernier. The story goes that French gem merchant Jean-Baptiste Tavernier came down with a raging fever soon after stealing the diamond, and after he died, his body was possibly ravaged by wolves. During a week-long looting of the crown jewels in September of 1792, the French Blue diamond was stolen. But the back of theFrench Blue had low angles and even an entirelyflat culet on its back, allowing some light to travel through and straight out the back of the stone. Eventually her fortune dwindled, forcing her to sell her familys newspaper (she tied in an exorbitant amount of debt). It is a recut diamond from the original Bleu de France.. . | READ MORE. In 1673, the stone was recut by Sieur Pitau, the court jeweler, resulting in a 67 1/8-carat stone. Sometime later it became the pendant on a diamond necklace as we know it today. Plus, even though I really like most shiny things (who doesnt, really? If you ask anybody what should happen to Jewish art stolen by the Nazis, everyone would say of course theyve got to be given back to their owners, Dalrymple says. Fouquet was imprisoned in the stronghold of Pignerol for 15 years until the monarch commuted his sentence to life imprisonment. Like the Koh-i-Noor, the Hope diamond came from India and was displayed at the London Exposition in 1851. Email powered by MailChimp (Privacy Policy & Terms of Use). The diamond came from Indias alluvial mines thousands of years ago, sifted from the sand. In 1984, the diamond was lent to Harry Winston Inc., in New York, as part of the firm's 50th anniversary celebration. Tavernier sold the diamond to King Louis XIV of France in 1668 with 14 other large diamonds and several smaller ones. Only after it was stolen in 1792, during the French Revolutionand before it resurfacedin Britain in 1812was it recut to the familiar, smaller shape we know today. Unfortunately, the catalog does not reveal where or from whom Hope acquired the diamond or how much he paid for it. The necklace chain contains 45 white diamonds. Terms of Use We are using cookies to give you the best experience on our website. King Louis XIV of France, who was the first person to purchase the diamond, is among the most well-known people who have had it. Louis XVI inherited the French Blue, Marie Antoinette wore it, and I think we all know what happened there. It was sold to a London dealer who quickly sold it to Joseph Frankels and Sons of New York City, who retained the stone in New York until they, in turn, needed cash. "His colors were blue and gold, and so to have a blue diamond with a gold sun in the centerthat'd be something that no one else has, something that would almost seem divine.". The Koh-i-Noor isnt the only contested treasure currently residing in the UK. In the pendant surrounding the Hope Diamond are 16 white diamonds, both pear-shapes and cushion cuts. It was in their collection, but filed under lead specimens," Post says. The stone was sold to Thomas Hope, a banker in London, in 1824. History Short: The Origins of Scotch Whisky, History Short: The Black Wall Street Massacre, Table of Contents: A History of the World, A Guide to Some of Our Favorite Scholars and Educators, Advance Screenings and Movie Reviews Archive, Schedule of Video Adaptations of Our Articles, 10 Notorious Thefts, Heists and Robberies, History and Headlines Reveals 10 Things History Got Wrong, Part 5(Movie Edition! It has a fascinating history that includes being owned by King Louis XIV, being stolen during the French Revolution, being sold to make money for gambling, being worn to raise money for charity, and ultimately being presented to the Smithsonian Institution where it now rests. It was set in gold and suspended on a neck ribbon which the king wore on ceremonial occasions. Kanitovski loaned it to Mlle Ladue who was "murdered by her sweetheart." What is the moral distinction between stuff taken by force in colonial times?, For Anand, the issue is even more personal. She is also the author of The Last Voyageurs: Retracing La Salle's Journey Across America. To view the purposes they believe they have legitimate interest for, or to object to this data processing use the vendor list link below. Press Esc to cancel. That's the story, anyway; we have no photographic evidence that Marie wore the gem. For the next 10 years the Hope Diamond was shown at many exhibits and charitable events world wide by Harry Winston Inc., including as the central attraction of their Court of Jewels exhibition. The sale was made in 1911 with the diamond mounted as a headpiece on a three-tiered circlet of large white diamonds. A part of the diamond bearing the Hope name first appeared in an 1839 gem catalog belonging to the Hope banking family, and the main section of the diamond was stolen in 1791 and recut. Due to its history of calamities, including the beheadings ofLouis XVI and Marie Antoinette,the Hope Diamond is rumored to be cursed. History Short: Londoners Riot Against Catholics Having Rights, Hundreds Die! Anand thinks one solution that doesnt require removing the Koh-i-Noor from the UK is to make the history of the diamond clearer. For many years, no one knew where the diamond had disappeared to. The diamond's blue coloration is attributed to trace amounts of boron in the stone. A separate collision resulted in his suffering a concussion. ), Im not much into jewelry. The Smithsonian is the official museum of the United States of America, and Donald Trump is its president. 2023 Minute Media - All Rights Reserved. He was the great-grandson of XIV. Marie-Louise, Princess de Lamballe, was a member of Marie Antoinette's court and was her closest confidante. Today the Smithsonian displays it in the Janet Annenberg Hooker Hall of Geology, Gems, and Minerals in the National Museum of Natural History. So far, the UK has retained ownership of the statues and the diamond, regardless of calls for their return. Smithsonian Center for Folklife and Cultural Heritage, Inside the Smithsonian Channel Documentary about the Hope Diamond, The Extraordinary History of the Hope Diamond. Wilhelm Fals was a Dutch jeweler who recut the diamond again. Upon discovering it was missing, priests put a curse on whoever was in possession of the gemwhich has included a fair amount of people over the years. It passed between the hands of various rulers in one blood-soaked episode after another, including a king who blinded his own son and a deposed ruler whose shaved head was coronated with molten gold. And while Kurin says uncovering the line of ownership of a gemstone like the Koh-i-Noor is best practice when it comes to history, it doesnt necessarily lead to a legal obligation (though other scholars and lawyers disagree). What I would dearly love is for there to be a really clear sign by the exhibit. Its author urged the British East India Company to do whatever they could to keep track of the Koh-i-Noor, so that it might ultimately be theirs. Cookie Settings, The U.S. Is Giving Away Lighthouses for Free, How the U.S. Still, according to experts, its also important as a rare scientific specimen that can provide critical insights into our understanding of diamonds and how they are generated on the earth. Since 1881, the diamond has been housed at the Smithsonian Institution. But returning pillaged art and treasure from World War II, as complicated as that can be, is still far less complex than unraveling colonial history. This collection also included the 94.8-carat Star of the East diamond, the 15-carat Star of the South diamond, a 9-carat green diamond, and a 31-carat diamond which is now called the McLean diamond. Although its impossible to know exactly where the Koh-i-Noor came from and when it first came into the Mughals possession, there is a definite point at which it appears in the written record. The infamously ostentatious Sun King bought the stone and had it recut into what was then known as the French Blue. He died painfully of gangrene. In 1791, after an attempt by Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette to flee France, the jewels of the French Royal Treasury were turned over to the government. To help fulfill his wish that the United States develop a major national jewel collection, Winston donated the Hope diamond to the Smithsonian to serve as the focal point of such a collection and act as a stimulus for other potential donors. Its last owner was the American jeweler Harry Winston, who donated it to the National Museum of Natural History of the Smithsonian Institution. Amora Gem vs Diamond: An Even Rarer Option than the Diamond. Marie-Louise was a member of Marie Antoinettes court and her closest confidante. The stone, then called the "French Blue," was stolen during the French Revolution in September 1792. Tavernier sold the diamond to King Louis XIV of France in 1668 with 14 other large diamonds and several smaller ones. On November 10, 1958, they donated the Hope Diamond to the Smithsonian Institution, and almost immediately the great blue stone became its premier attraction. Hope is the name of the family who owned it from 1824. It is classified as a type IIb diamond, which are semiconductive and usually phosphoresce. After it was cut, he suffered ill fate when his son allegedly stole the diamond, murdered his father and then took his own life. Its allure is heightened by its exciting history, which includes being owned by King Louis XIV, being stolen during the French Revolution, being sold to raise money for gambling, being worn to raise money for charity, and finally being donated to the Smithsonian Institution, where it currently resides. B. Tavernier), which may be found in the Library of Congress. The history of the stone which was eventually named the Hope Diamond began when the French merchant traveler, Jean Baptiste Tavernier, purchased a 112 3/16-carat diamond. Carat weight: 45.52 carats The History Of The Hope Diamond From India To Europe Believed to originate from the Kollur mine in India and to have featured in an Indian temple before being stolen, the Hope Diamond began as a much larger stone. If you liked this article and would like to receive notification of new articles, please feel welcome to subscribe to History and Headlines by liking us on Facebook and becoming one of our patrons! Strong evidence indicates that the stone was the recut French Blue and the same stone known today as the HopeDiamond. Please let us know in the comments section below this article. Its origin story is most likely complete bullshit: its said that the original stone it was cut from, the 115.6 carat Tavernier Blue diamond, was stolen from a sacred a Hindu statue by French gem merchant Jean-Baptiste Tavernier. Nicholas Fouquet, who worked for King Louis XIV, is said to have worn the diamond for a special occasion. The first reference to the diamond's next owner is found in the 1839 entry of the gem collection catalog of the well-known Henry Philip Hope, the man from whom the diamond takes its name. Several people have owned the diamond, including Washington socialite Evalyn Walsh McLean, who was frequently photographed wearing it. This diamond, which was most likely from the Kollur mine in Golconda, India, was somewhat triangular in shape and crudely cut. For centuries, India was the worlds only source of diamondsall the way until 1725, with the discovery of diamond mines in Brazil. Simon Maoncharides was a wealthy Greek merchant who drove his car off a cliff, killing himself, his wife, and his child. But the colonists were first forced to wait out a chaotic period of changing rulers. "Unfortunately, Tavernier wrote some really wonderful journals about the trip, but nowhere in them did he say anything about where he actually bought the diamond," Post says. Most of the gemstones were alluvial, meaning they could be sifted out of river sands, and rulers of the subcontinent embraced their role as the first diamond connoisseurs. Many people find a difficulty in bringing themselves to believe, from its external appearance, that it is anything but a piece of common glass, wrote The Times in June 1851. It was sold to a London dealer who quickly sold it to Joseph Frankels and Sons of New York City, who retained the stone in New York until they, in turn, needed cash. Shah Jahans throne took seven years to make, costing four times as much as the Taj Mahal, which was also under construction. A large blue diamond, now called the "Hope Diamond," appears in the gem catalogue of Henry Philip Hope, but no history of the stone is presented. February 5, 1909: First Plastic Invented was called Bakelite! Foquet was the superintendent of finances of King Louis XIV, and while he never personally owned the diamond, he was allowed to wear it for a special occasion. This heightensthe brilliance for the viewer. It was sold to a London dealer who quickly sold it to Joseph Frankels and Sons of New York City, who retained the stone in New York until they, in turn, needed cash. How the Priceless Hope Diamond Traveled Through USPS, Mystery of the Hope Diamond: Behind the Scenes, Historic Findings in the Smithsonian's Curators Reports, Exclude Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum Collection, Exclude Currently on exhibit at the National Postal Museum, Exclude National Postal Museum Collection, Exclude Product Design and Decorative Arts Department, Skip to facets for narrowing search results. . People are taught this was a gift from India to Britain. The king then changed this sentence to life imprisonment, so Fouquet spent 15 years in the fortress of Pignerol. Diamond Rings: Which Style Suits Your Occasion? But beneath the drama of the diamond is a more serious question that still has no clear answer: How should modern nations deal with a colonial legacy of looting? Advertising Notice One thing I did find interesting, though, is the supposed "curse" that the Hope Diamond carries. 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