Muslim ruler hires Israeli silversmiths to adorn his palace

Sunday, November 25, 2012 |  Yossi Aloni, Israel Today magazine  

There might be a general Muslim boycott on all Israeli-made goods, but that didn't stop a Muslim ruler from commissioning Israeli silversmiths to craft a stunning diamond-studded candelabrum for his palace.

With a price tag of USD $400,000, the beautifully crafted piece was accompanied by an armed guard all the way from Israel to its new home in one of the nations from the former Soviet Union.

Standing at nearly six feet tall, the candelabrum was carved from pure silver, and includes two flamingos intricately carved from solid gold at its base. Not to mention the 4-carat diamond embedded in the stem. It took eight silversmiths from the Israeli jeweler Hazorfim over four months to craft the work of art.

Since direct contact between Muslim heads of state and Israeli producers is taboo, the deal was brokered by a Russian intermediary, who has already helped the buyer purchase three pieces from Hazorfim, with a fourth in the works.

The buyer reportedly originally commissioned Italian, Russian and Turkish craftsmen to produce the piece. But the level of craftsmanship and care demonstrated by the Israelis eventually won them the contract.

Hazorfim included with the candelabrum a book chronicling the entire process of its creation.

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