Persian Art And The Power Of The National Jewels

Persian art is one of the richest art heritages in the world and appears in many forms including architecture, painting, weaving, pottery, calligraphy, metalworking and sculpture. My experience of Persian art and jewellery dates back to when I was a child and was lucky enough to see the imperial collection of Persian national jewels on display.

The grandeur of the Persian royal collection came to the attention of the western world from their use by Mohammad Reza Shah Pahlavi and his Shahbanu, Farah Pahlavi, whilst undertaking their official ceremonies and royal visits.

These crown jewels are believed to be so valuable, they remain as a reserve to back the Iranian currency.In 1937, under the reign of Reza Shah Pahlavi, the ownership of the Imperial treasury was handed to the state. The jewels were stored in the vaults of the National Bank of Iran, to be used as collateral to bolster the financial power of the institution and to back the national monetary system.