The Many Tales of the Spoonmaker’s Diamond

The Spoonmaker’s Diamond, also referred to as the Kasikci, is probably the most valued exhibit of the Topkapi Palace Museum. The Topkapi Palace Museum is among the most well-known treasuries within the phrase. Inside its partitions are historic maces, daggers, pendants, guide covers, chests, rings, and numerous different historic artifacts, studded, encrusted, and artfully embellished with stunning stones. The Spoonmaker’s Diamond rests prized amongst these.

This 86 carat (17 g) non battle diamond is lower in a pear form and surrounded by a cluster of forty 9 smaller, brilliant-cut diamonds. It has been in comparison with the curved dipper of a spoon (which is perhaps the origin of its identify) and a full moon, illuminating a vibrant sky filled with stars.

Although there are a number of legends as to the place the Spoonmaker Diamond got here from, its true origins and the way it acquired to the Topkapi Palace are unknown. Sultan Mehmet IV additionally had a diamond referred to as the Spoonmaker’s Diamond, nevertheless it was set in a hoop and weighed a lot lower than the equally named gemstone within the Topkapi Palace.

One of many origin myths of the Spoonmaker’s Diamond begins with a poor fisherman, wandering round Istanbul, penniless and empty handed. He finds a brilliantly shining stone amongst the piles of rubbish. Not sure of what the stone was, however recognizing it as stunning, he shops it in his pocket for a number of days earlier than going to a jeweler’s market-this was earlier than the times of IGI value determinations.

The fisherman reveals his rock to the primary jeweler he comes throughout. The jeweler acknowledges it as an especially worthwhile diamond, however feigns disinterest. He offers it a cursory glance-over and states that it’s only a hunk of glass, however he’s prepared to provide the fisherman three spoons for his bother, out of sympathy. The fisherman agrees, and walks away from the deal feeling higher off.

In a barely completely different model of the story, an impoverished man named Rashid finds the diamond in 1699 whereas scouring the Istanbul rubbish dumps. He haggled with a spoonmaker and manages to get three wood spoons in change for the shiny rock. The spoonmaker, recognizing the gem as worthwhile however not realizing that it was value a fortune, sells it to a jeweler for ten silver cash.

The jeweler examines the diamond with a pal, and so they quickly uncover its true worth, probably the greatest worth diamonds they’ve ever seen. They argue a bit over what to do, however finally determine to promote it to a different jeweler. They every get a bag of gold out of the deal. Earlier than the third jeweler can promote the diamond, Grand Vizier Ahmed Pasha hears of its presence and confiscates it. The Spoonmaker’s Diamond quickly passes into the arms of Sultan Mehmed IV.

The story put collectively by researchers and historians is far completely different. A French officer named Pigot bought the diamond in 1774 from Maharajah of Madras. He introduced it again house with him to France, however was robbed by thieves. The diamond disappeared, and didn’t resurface till Casanova purchased the diamond in an public sale.

The diamond handed arms and ended up in one other public sale, the place Napoleon’s mom purchased it. She wore it steadily, however when Napoleon went into exile, she put it up on the market in an effort to help him. A person who labored for Tepedeleni Ali Pasha purchased the diamond from her and offered it to Pasha. Later, throughout the reign of Mahmud II, Pasha was killed beneath fees of revolt and treason. His treasury, together with the Pigot Diamond, was confiscated by the state.

The treasury information describe the Pigot Diamond as having a mass of 86 carats, the identical because the Spoonmaker’s Diamond. Conclusions have been reached that the Pigot Diamond is one and the identical because the Spoonmaker’s Diamond. It’s nonetheless not sure if the Spoonmaker’s Diamond was solid with the forty 9 sensible lower diamonds by Mahmud II’s males or Tepedeleni Ali Pasha’s males. Nevertheless, they enhance its dazzling look in addition to its market worth.