A masterful deciphering of an extraordinary art object, illuminating some of the biggest questions of the eighteenth century The Throne of the Great Mogul (1701-8) is a unique work of European decorative art: an intricate miniature of the court of the Mughal emperor Aurangzeb depicted during the emperor's birthday celebrations. It was created by the jeweler Johann Melchior Dinglinger in Dresden and purchased by the Saxon prince Augustus the Strong for an enormous sum. Constructed like a theatrical set made of gold, silver, thousands of gemstones, and amazing enamel work, it consists of 164 pieces that together tell a detailed story. Why did Dinglinger invest so much time and effort in making this piece? Why did Augustus, in the midst of a political and financial crisis, purchase it? And why did the jeweler secrete in it messages wholly unrelated to the prince or to the Great Mogul? In answering these questions, Dror Wahrman, while shifting scales from microhistory to global history, opens a window onto major historical themes of the period: the nature of European absolutism, the princely politics of the Holy Roman Empire, the changing meaning of art in the West, the surprising emergence of a cross-continental lexicon of rulership shared across the Eastern Hemisphere, and the enactment in jewels and gold of quirky contemporary theories about the global history of religion.

The Green Vault is the most magnificent treasure chamber museum in Europe Home to the Dresden Green Diamond, the Green Vault houses more than 120 precious objects, most of them dating from the Renaissance through to the late Baroque period Housed in the Residence Palace of Dresden, this storehouse of treasures displays, some of the most important works of European culture.

Detailing the contents of the "Gr�nes Gew�lbe"—or Green Vault—this catalog surveys the Treasury of the Saxonian Kings, depicting the collections of August the Strong, King of Saxony and Poland. The study illustrates how the museum was unparalleled in its time and maintains its distinction today with an extravagant profusion of precious objects in the gold, silver, enamel, and precious stones that proclaimed the wealth and artistic taste of the Saxon dynasty. Capturing a treasure trove from the early 18th century, this examination presents the vault's eight exquisitely decorated display rooms designed to inspire amazement in visitors.