A MARVELLOUS CHRISTMAS CARD.
The most costly single Christmas card ever produced was that made, some years ago, by an English firm in Calcutta to the order of the Gaekwar of Baroda, the potentate who was afterwards deposed for attempting to poison a Eritish resident by mixing diamond dust with his food. The " card," which was of ivory, measured 12 inches by 10, and many elephants were sacrificed before a perfect piece of ivory of the required size was found. Four of the most skilful ivory carvers in the country were employed to decorate the costly plaque. They worked almost continually for six months. The carvings represented scenes in the various stages of the existence of Buddha. Arranged round the edge, so as to form a setting to the whole, were 44 diamonds of the purest water. The value of this unique card was estimated at many thousands of pounds, and it was intended as a Christmas gift to a European lady of high degree. It never reached its destination, however, owing to the Gaekwar being arrested.
Permanent link to this item
https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/OW19021224.2.379
Bibliographic details
Otago Witness, Issue 2545, 24 December 1902, Page 28 (Supplement)
Word Count
177A MARVELLOUS CHRISTMAS CARD. Otago Witness, Issue 2545, 24 December 1902, Page 28 (Supplement)
Using This Item
No known copyright (New Zealand)
To the best of the National Library of New Zealand’s knowledge, under New Zealand law, there is no copyright in this item in New Zealand.
You can copy this item, share it, and post it on a blog or website. It can be modified, remixed and built upon. It can be used commercially. If reproducing this item, it is helpful to include the source.
For further information please refer to the Copyright guide.
Log in