A Jeweler’s Dream

Digital drawing, archival pigment inkjet print on fine art paper, Limited edition of 5, 42 x 29.7 cm, 350 USD

Armenian Artin Efendi had been jeweler to the Ottoman court for over 45 years, and lived in a small palace in Galata, as did other wealthy non-Muslims. One morning a stranger forced his way into Artin’s Grand Bazaar shop. Tossing a pouch into his lap, he shouted, “Hide it! I’ll be back for it! Don’t dare look inside!” and ran away. Naturally, Artin couldn’t resist. Peeking inside, he found a gold cross. But what really caught his eye was the stamp of Constantine, the last Byzantine emperor. Placing the cross in his metal safe, he also noticed it seemed to weigh a little less than one might expect. 

Several surprises greeted Artin the next morning. The thief had been caught and hanged, dying with his secret. Plus, a fire had broken out in the Grand Bazaar, totally destroying his shop except for the safe. Opening it, he discovered that the cross had melted to reveal the biggest cut diamond the world had ever seen! It was the diamond Emperor Constantine had given to the Pope 300 years earlier as payment for sending a navy against the invading Ottomans. The cross was merely camouflage! That morning Artin The Jeweler became the richest man in the known world.