SimplyAbuDhabi XLIV

B oghossian’s own unique adventure is a journey from East to West, an exploration of beauty and enchantment in their most daring, mesmerising forms. Along this road, like so many gems studded across a glittering chain, a collection of fine buildings sparkle: the Palaces. Like a jewel itself, a palace distils the essence of fantasy and beauty. These are special places, unique to their eras and situations. Palaces represent what is most precious about a culture or historical period. Within these hallowed walls, the finest examples of art and craftsmanship are allowed to bloom, endowed with a freedom and means rarely seen in other contexts. AMARNA The great city ofAmarna was erected under the reign of pharaohAkhenaton, in the 14th Century BC. Remains from the North Palace, constructed for his wife Nefertiti, show to what extent the stylistic shift ofAncient Egyptian arts was apparent during this period, with a clear move towards a more informal style and a sense of freedom. Fragments from the paintings of the so-called “Green Room” of theAmarna palace show an interpretation of the traditional papyrus motif, in a more abstract, geometric shape. Crafted in jadeite, emerald and diamond, the Queen’s Papyrus set echoes the particular shape of the frond, the green tones referencing bothAmarna’s “Green Room” itself and the long history of emeralds in jewellery, used even in Ancient Egypt, as far back as 1500BC. The pairing of sparkling emerald with matte green jadeite creates a sense of the unexpected which reflects the creative shift of theAmarna period, as does the contrast between the sharp cut of the papyrus heads and the more rounded feel of the base. The Nile Flowers ensemble features meticulously cut blue sapphires and diamonds to evoke an abstract papyrus shape, linking back to this same sense of creative audacity, highly evident in the art of theAmarna period and its stylized frescoes. GOLESTAN In the heart of Tehran, the Golestan Palace was commenced in the 16th Century: known as the “Palace of the Rose Garden”, it is a perfect example of traditional Kadjar architecture. As Tehran was designated the new capital, later elements were added to the original structure throughout the late 19th Century, including the celebrated Hall of Mirrors, which took four years to complete, and the smaller yet equally ornate Hall of Diamonds. The Mirror Maze set uses carving methods and bright stones – rubies, emeralds, turquoise, pink and blue sapphires, and diamonds – to imitate the highly detailed architecture of the room and its colourful stained-glass panels. Three yellow diamonds form the centre of a geometric design which highlights the exceptional optical properties of the gems, using a powerful sense of symmetry in a literal interpretation of the palace’s architecture. The great craftsmanship of the monument itself is reflected in the technique used to create the White Hall pieces. Rock crystal is carved from behind, using a technique similar to that of the intricate glasswork of the palace details. The use of different cuts of rock crystal, diamonds and mother-of- pearl create a play on transparency and whiteness, reflecting and refracting light in the same way as the strapwork intertwining across the ceilings of the Golestan palace. REGENCYRESIDENCE Later to be crowned George IV, the then-Prince of Wales visited Brighton in the late 18th Century, advised by his physician to bathe in the sea. The original house was renovated several times, most notably by architect John Nash, who extended the Royal Pavilion and gave it its unique Indo- Saracenic domes, completed in 1823. The interior design matched the ornate, oriental feel of the building, which was also used by King William IV. Queen Victoria disliked its central location in the highly fashionable resort and sold the building to the city of Brighton in 1850. It remains one of its most famous landmarks, with its unexpected, highly spectacular architecture and interiors. BOGHOSSIAN PALACE VOYAGES: A Journey Through Time and Space BOGHOSSIAN PALACE VOYAGES: A Journey Through Time and Space S I M P L Y J E W E L L E R Y By Kerry Smith AMARNA 182 | Simply Abu Dhabi