PEACOCK THRONE

famous golden throne stolen from India by the Persians in 1739. Thereafter lost, it (and its reproductions) remained the symbol of the Persian, or Iranian, monarchy. The original throne, built for the Mughal emperor Shah Jahan in the early 17th century, was reportedly one of the most splendorous thrones ever made. It was ascended by silver steps and stood on golden feet set with jewels; and it was backed by representations of two open peacocks' tails, gilded, enamelled, and inset with diamonds, rubies, and other stones. The throne was seized along with other plunder when the Iranian conqueror Nader Shah captured Delhi in 1739. Before leaving India, he had a divan made in the same style and brought both Peacock Thrones back to Iran, only to lose both in warfare with the Kurds, who apparently dismantled them and distributed the precious stones and metals. Later Peacock Thrones or divans (probably reproductions) were made for subsequent shahs, notably Fath Ali Shah (reigned 17971834). The dazzling chairlike throne used by the two Pahlavi shahs at their coronations (1926, 1941) was a reproduction dating from the Q ajar dynasty.