Johor State Crown, Diadem To Dazzle At At National Museum's "Raja Kita" Exhibition

By Siti Baaqiah Mamat

KUALA LUMPUR, July 25 (Bernama) -- The State Crown of Johor and the Diadem, used during the Coronation Ceremony of His Majesty Sultan Ibrahim in 2015, are among the special collections displayed at the "Raja Kita" exhibition at the National Museum.

The royal regalia will be exclusively exhibited to the public for the first five days of the exhibition, starting tomorrow.

The exhibition, which runs for two months until Sept 29, is part of the events lined up for the Installation Ceremony of His Majesty Sultan Ibrahim as the 17th King of Malaysia, which took place last Saturday (July 20).

Museums Department of Malaysia director-general Datuk Kamarul Baharin A. Kasim said this was the first time the crowns worn by Sultan Ibrahim and Her Majesty Raja Zarith Sofiah, Queen of Malaysia, during the Coronation Ceremony of Sultan Ibrahim as the fifth Sultan of Johor on March 23, 2015, have been brought out of Johor for public viewing.

"The crowns are specially brought from the Royal Abu Bakar Museum at the Grand Palace of Johor, which is not open to the public, and I believe this is the first time they are being displayed to the public," he told Bernama.

"We express our deepest gratitude to Sultan Ibrahim for granting permission and generously allowing these two crowns to be displayed at the National Museum," he said.

Kamarul Baharin noted that the crown had unique features as it was adorned with motifs of black pepper and gambier, which were synonymous with the early socio-economic development of Johor.

"Each state has its unique crown design, and in Johor, most of the motifs used are gambier, black pepper, and it’s made of blue silk fabric. This crown is one of the most expensive items on display and very unique as it was specially commissioned in London.

"The crown has its own history, and for Johor, the late Sultan Abu Bakar was among the Malay rulers who received the title 'Sir,' and the crown is related to the recognition given by the British government at that time," he said.

According to the explanatory notes on the display case, the State Crown of Johor was made by J.W Benson, London in 1886, inspired by the British crown named "King Edward's Crown," but it was modified according to the taste and wishes of His Royal Highness Sultan Abu Bakar.

Sultan Abu Bakar did not want the cross symbol on the original crown to be used and replaced it with Islamic symbols such as the moon and star, and wished "Allah" and "Muhammad" to be added.

Additionally, the four five-point stars on the crown signify that Sultan Abu Bakar upholds Islam, which is the official religion of Johor.

The State Crown is made of gold and silver and is embedded with precious stones of different shapes and sizes such as rubies, sapphires, emeralds, and diamonds.

Meanwhile, the Diadem, also designed and made by J.W Benson, London, is smaller compared to the State Crown and made of white gold set with diamonds with an ‘awan larat’ (floral scroll) motif.

However, in 1925, Sultan Sir Ibrahim modified and improved the Diadem by adding five large diamonds, each of 18 karats.

-- BERNAMA