plate to be pinned
before publish
before publish
The Koh-i-Noor, Before and After the 1852 Recutting
period engraving, 19th century
reproductionpre1931-platerights: pending
The mountain of light in both its lives — the old Mughal cut and the Victorian brilliant it became in 1852.
Why it matters
The most storied diamond on earth, drawn at the hinge of its history; empire, optics, and regret in one plate.
Notice
The lost weight between the two figures — brilliance, purchased with mass.
Meaning
Every recutting is a wager against history.
Source
The Illustrated London News, 24 July 1852, p.53, "Re-cutting the Koh-i-Noor" (low-res copy only — needs higher-res scan before publish) view source ↗
Material
diamond
Rights: PENDING. A named source is not the same as registry clearance. Basis on file: PD-pre1931. Shown for this preview only; not offered for sale.
The Famous Stones