Trip to view Cleveland Museums
On Saturday, May 11th, 2005, many club members joined a bus trip to The Cleveland Museum of Art
to see the Special Exhibit Treasury of the World: Jeweled Arts of
India in the Age of the Mughals. This was an exhibit of the most fabulous jewels -- (arguably) more spendid even than Faberge,
even -- and we were lucky it came so close to Erie (the exhibit only appeared in 5 cities: London, New York, Cleveland, Houston, and
St. Louis). More gold, diamonds, rubies and emeralds than you can shake a -- um -- jeweled sword at.
The Muslim rulers of 17th-century India, including Shah Jahan (who commissioned the famous Taj Mahal), are often called
history’s greatest patrons of the jeweled arts. Ruling one of the wealthiest and greatest empires of Asia, they commanded exceptional
expertise in gemstones and artful settings, plus unfathomable riches and access to many of the finest hard stones ever known.
In 1616, England’s ambassador to the Mughal court, Sir Thomas Roe, wrote of Emperor Jahangir (father of Shah Jahan): “In jewels,
he is the treasury of the world.”
While the physical exhibit is long gone, the Museum's web site still has the
Online Exhibit, which is well worth a look. Also, the exhibit Calalog
was still available at the Museum Store last I checked -- wow! Nice Photos! Not quite as good as seeing it in person, but a pretty good
second choice.
While we were there, we walked across the park and to the Cleveland Musem of Natural History and had a
look at the Wade Gallery of Gems and Jewels.
updated 15 August 2005
