Empress Farah Of Iran's Crown
Because the Imperial Jewels could not leave Iran, the construction of the Empress of Iran’s Crown had to take place in Teheran, although a replica was made for display in the Place Vendôme, the headquarters of Van Cleef & Arpels in Paris. It took Pierre Arpels over 20 trips and 6 months between Paris and Teheran before the completion of his illustrious job. Other jewels created for the Empress of Iran included her earrings and a magnificent diamond, emerald and pearl necklace.
The Treasure of Iran had been accumulated for centuries and many of the jewels from the various dynasties were kept, creating the most incredible ensemble. After the revolution of 1979, the Imperial Family left all the jewels, which belonged to the State, behind and they are kept in the National Bank in Teheran, where they can be visited.
This rather unique crown is the one worn by the Shahbanou of Iran on the 26th October 1967, thus the Empress of Iran’s Crown. Weighting only 1.950 kg, the crown is admirable for its elegance and oriental aspect, mingled with modernity. The crown includes 1545 stones mounted in white gold: 36 rubies, 36 emeralds, 105 pearls and 1469 diamonds, all selected from the loose gems of the treasure. The largest emerald is to be seen in the centre of the biggest sunburst, in the front of the crown.
The attire of the
Empress of Iran, one of the most elegant women of the world, during the Coronation of Teheran had been a subject of speculation for weeks. The revelation came as Her Imperial Majesty entered the Grand Hall of the Golestan Palace of Teheran. Then it was possible to admire her admirably grand dress in all its magnificence. Designed by Marc Bohan, designer of Christian Dior in Paris, the white dress was woven and cut in Iran by Iranian women. It had very small and discreet embroideries of brilliants and it had an impressive train of five meters.
The magnificent white dress contrasted sharply with the colours of the ceremony and gave the Empress a unique serenity. Never had a queen worn such a simultaneously simple and magnificent dress at a coronation. Over it, the Shahbanou of Iran wore a simple cornflower blue sash (with two long golden tassels at the end) from which hung the badge. It was the
Nishan-i-Aryamehr, or the Order of the Light of the Aryans, created by the Shah exactly one month before, on the 26th September 1967, in honour of his wife. The Empress wore the star of this order, of which she received the First Class, reserved for female sovereigns or consorts. A second class was reserved for the princesses, who wore it at the Coronation.
Just before her coronation, a
magnificent Imperial Robe was placed above Empress Farah’s shoulders. Perhaps the most amazing robe ever to be made, the green velvet cloth was a superb masterpiece, also
designed by Marc Boham from Dior but again woven, cut and finalized in Iran, by Iranians. That colour was chosen because green is the colour of the descendants of the Prophet. The gold embroidery in the green velvet, though, gave it the most extraordinary look. But it was not only gold, since the whole length of the train (longer than the train of the white dress) was embroidered with diamonds, rubies and emeralds. The back of the robe was especially magnificent, with the Pahlavi arms embroidered in gold surrounded by a profusion of gold embroideries with alternating rubies and emeralds. The whole robe and train were bordered with
vison. Although tremendously magnificent, the Empress’ robe had the very unique characteristic of being extremely different from all the robes ever seen, ever made, or ever imagined. It could not be compared to the British Coronation robes, it could not be compared with the French Coronation robes, it could not be compared with the Austrian Coronation robes: it was, quite simply, uniquely beautiful and different.
