Koh-I-Noor diamondWHO SHOULD GET IT AND WHY?

Oppenheimer diamond, 253 carats

(1 carat = 0,2 g)

1658 cut: from 793 to 186 carats

(1 carat = 0,2 g)

“Where is the stone?”

“Where is the stone?”

“Where is the stone?”

When:13th century ADWhere:Andhra Pradesh region of IndiaWho:Hindu Kakatiya dynasty

“Where is the stone?”

When:1526 - 1739Where:India (Mughal Empire)Who:Turco-Mongol warlord Babur and his heirs

“Where is the stone?”

When:1739 - 1747Where:Iran (Persia)Who:Nader Shah of Persia

“Where is the stone?”

When:1747 - 1813Where:AfghanistanWho:Ahmad Shah Durrani, Emir of Afghanistan(former general of Nader Shah)

“Where is the stone?”

When:1813 - 1849Where:Pakistan (Sikh Empire)Who:Maharaja Ranjit Singh, founder of Sikh Empire(got it as “gift” for sheltering Shuja Shah Durrani)

1852: (personal) brooch of Victoria1902: crown of Queen Alexandra1911: Queen Mary crown1937: Queen Mother crown

Proper display?

1909

Decolonization of British India

Conflicting claimsWhen Country Institution Entitlement Occasion

1947 India government stone origin, 13th century

independence of India

1953 India government stone origin, 13th century

Elizabeth II. coronation

1976 Pakistan government last owner, 1849 letter of Pakistani P.M.

2000 Pakistan parliament last owner, 1849 letter of several Pakistani M.P.s

2000 Afghanistan (Taliban)

foreign affairs department

1747 - 1813 (then “stolen” by India)

2015 India private initiative stone origin, 13th century

lawsuit preparations

Other potential claimants:Iran: 1739 – 1747Sikh people: ceded to the British by Sikh emperor, Maharaja Duleep SinghMaharaja Singh heirs: private ownership, rather than public

Sikh people migration

Elvin Marbles Rosetta Stone Zodiac Koh-I-Noor

known before relocation yes no yes yes

part of an existing greater structure before relocation yes no yes no

permitted to relocate by domestic govt. at the time

questionable proof no no proof "gift"

spoils of war no yes no yes ("gift")

key to understanding culture of origin no yes yes no

culturally significant for domestic site/people

(today)yes yes yes no

comodity value no no no yes

intentionally modified after relocation no no no yes

part of significant new structure after relocation no no no yes (mostly)

unitary domestic claims yes yes yes no

Artifact comparison

Elvin Marbles Rosetta Stone Zodiac Koh-I-Noor

known before relocation yes no yes yes

part of an existing greater structure before relocation yes no yes no

permitted to relocate by domestic govt. at the time

questionable proof no no proof "gift"

spoils of war no yes no yes ("gift")

key to understanding culture of origin no yes yes no

culturally significant for domestic site/people

(today)yes yes yes no

commodity value no no no yes

intentionally modified after relocation no no no yes

part of significant new structure after relocation no no no yes (mostly)

unitary domestic claims yes yes yes no

Artifact comparison

So…WHO DO YOU

THINK SHOULD GET IT?

AND WHY?