QD ... The Queen's Diamonds New InformationArchived Message
Posted by Boffer on May 8, 2012, 12:12 pm
I have received my copy of the Queen's Diamonds and there are a number of mysteries solved, as to the whereabouts and origins of certain jewels.
It goes without saying that all the information below has been quoted and paraphrased from:
Hugh Roberts (ed.), The Queen's Diamonds, (London: Royal Collection Publications, 2012).
Including:
- Queen Adelaide's Fringe Necklace: This was made using George III's diamonds (hence the confusion with Queen Mary's Diamond Tiara). It was worn by Queen Victoria as both a necklace and a tiara, it was worn by Queen Alexandra at her coronation as a girdle, and was later worn by Queen Mary as a tiara, until she commissioned her own Fringe Tiara. It passed to the Queen Mother, who often wore it as a necklace. It is now owned by the Queen.
- Queen Adelaide's Brooch: (Originally referred to as the William IV brooch) was originally made as the clasp for a pearl necklace that Queen Adelaide wore to her coronation.
- Queen Victoria's Bow Brooches: It has been confirmed that these were made to replace Queen Charlotte's almost identical bow brooches, which were lost in the Hanoverian claim.
- Queen Victoria's Wheat-ear Brooches: There are six in total, it is confirmed that they were made using family diamonds by William IV.
- Queen Victoria's Golden Jubilee Necklace: It has been noted that the crown on the top of the central quatrefoil is detachable.
- Queen Alexandra's Wedding Tiara: (Previously incorrectly referred to as the Rundell Tiara). It was made by Garrards for the cost of &£8,000. This was left to Princess Victoria upon Alexandra's death, and was later "disposed of by her". (It is no longer in the collection).
- The Ladies of England Necklace/Tiara: This was dismantled in 1913 to created the Lover's Knot Tiara
- The Duchess of Gloucester's Pendant Earrings: It is revealed that the two pairs of earrings originally known as 'The Duchess of Teck's Stud Earrings' (worn by the Queen on her wedding day); and 'Queen Mary's Pendant Earrings' were originally the same pair, the pendants hanging from the studs. They were originally inherited by the Duchess of Teck from her aunt the Duchess of Gloucester. The stud earrings were a gift to Princess Elizabeth from Queen Mary in January 1947, when she left for the South African Tour. The pendant earrings were inherited in 1953.
- The Duchess of Teck's Tiara: This was made using diamond elements inherited from the Duchess of Gloucester. It was gifted by Queen Mary to the Queen Mother in 1937 and inherited by the Queen in 2002; since then it has been "loaned to the Duchess of Cornwall".
- The Duchess of Teck's Flower Brooch: This is the corsage brooch that Queen Mary gave to the Queen Mother in 1923 as a wedding gift, it was among the jewels that the Duchess of Teck inherited from her aunt, the Duchess of Gloucester.
- Greek Key Diamond and Pearl Necklace: It is revealed that the necklace that the Duke of York gave to his bride in 1923 as a wedding-present, in a greek-key design, was purchased from Garrards. It is revealed that this was dismantled six months later, and the stones were used to created the Lotus Flower Tiara.
- The Duchess of Teck's Emperor of Austria Brooch: (Previously referred to as the 'Teck Corsage Brooch') This was a gift to the Duchess of Teck by the Emperor of Austria when he stood as godfather to her son Prince Francis of Teck.
- The County of Surrey Tiara: It is revealed that this has been dismantled. The large diamonds from which were used to replace the pearls on top of the 'Girls of Great Britain and Ireland Tiara'.
- The Girls of Great Britain and Ireland Tiara: This is convertible to both a necklace and a small coronet style tiara. The pearls were removed and used in the Lover's Knot Tiara.
- Queen Mary's Richmond Brooch: Previously referred to as the Surrey Brooch, this pearl and diamond brooch, was actually a wedding gift to Queen Mary from the Town of Richmond.
- Queen Mary's Love Trophy Collar: This was made by Garrards in 1901 for Queen Mary, using diamonds from her own collection, taken from another “scroll and ribbon-pattern collar”, which had in turn been made using the stones from seven 12-pointed diamond stars, and a pair of star earrings, that had been given to Queen Mary as an 18th Birthday Present (by her grandmother the Duchess of Cambridge). Diamonds were also taken from a “floral spray”, that had been a present to Queen Mary from her Aunt, Augusta, Grand-Duchess of Mecklenberg-Strelitz. Munn attributed this to Cartier, however there is no reference to it in their archives; nor is there any reference to it in Garrard’s archives, yet this seems to be the more likely attribution.
- The Boucheron Loop Tiara: This was made in 1902, using 675 stones that had been given to Queen Mary (when Duchess of York) by the De Beers Company. It was later dismantled to made the Delhi Durbar Tiara.
- The Delhi Durbar Tiara: This was made in 1911 using stones taken from the Boucheron Loop Tiara. The emeralds were permanently removed from this tiara by 1922.
- It is revealed that when the emeralds were removed from the Durbar Tiara they were adapted for the Vladimir Tiara. Queen Mary also purchased a small diamond bandeau in 1925 from Garrards, upon which is placed some of the Cambridge Emerald Pendants as spikes. This bandeau was bequeathed to by Queen Mary to Princess Marina, the Duchess of Kent in 1953 (with the emeralds removed).
- It is revealed that the brooch worn by Queen Mary to the 1937 coronation was a "large openwork oval brooch" that was "later disposed of".
- Queen Mary's Stomacher: It is revealed that the Karputhala Stomacher that was dismantled to create Queen Mary's stomacher, was indeed the one that was suggested. It had been a wedding present in 1893.
- Queen Mary's Sautoir: The Diamond Sautoir that Queen Mary was often featured wearing was made in 1928 using diamonds taken from a riviere necklace that was purchased from the Grand-Duchess Vladimir in 1921. It passed to the Queen in 1953 and has since been shortened.
- Queen Mary's Chain Link Bracelets: These combine to form a choker necklace. The first was purchased in 1932 from Garrards. A second one was made to match in 1935 (when they were made to be adapted as a choker). The second bracelet was made to incorporate a detachable brooch that was made in 1935 using 9.75 carat diamond from South Africa. The brooch and bracelets were left to the Queen in 1953, who has only ever worn them as bracelets.
- Queen Mary's Cluster Earrings: These were made in 1922 using the 'Mackinnon Diamonds'. in 1939 the Mackinnon Diamonds were removed and replaced with large diamonds that had been a wedding-gift in 1893 from the Bombay Presidency.
- Queen Mary's Floret Earrings: These were made in 1939 using the Mackinnon Diamonds that had been removed from the Cluster Earrings.
- Queen Elizabeth's Coronation Necklace: It has been confirmed that this was a gift from George VI to Queen Elizabeth on the occasion of their coronation. It has since been loaned to the Duchess of Cornwall, who has shortened it by nine stones.
- Queen Elizabeth's Palm-leaf Brooch: Previously referred to as the Paisley Motif Brooch; this was made by Cartier in 1938 using loose stones from her own collection.
- Queen Elizabeth's Lily Brooch: Known as the 'Foot Long Floral Brooch' it is revealed that this brooch is 17.2 cm long, it was made by Cartier in 1939 using 203 loose stones from Queen Elizabeth's collection, and 52 stones from Cartier.
- The Greville Bow Brooch: The large 'mystery' bow brooch that the Queen Mother was pictured wearing in 1961 is actually from the collection of Mrs. Greville. It was made by Boucheron in 1900.
- The Greville Tiara: This was made in 1921, using stones from a tiara made by Boucheron in 1901 (this tiara is illustrated). It was modified in 1953 using a large marquise diamond, and brilliant diamonds that were loose (after having been removed from a brooch in 1949).
- The Greville Scroll Brooch: The small diamond and pearl brooch that the Queen Mother and the Queen have worn (which some have referred to as being in an 'E' shape); was actually part of the Greville bequest. It was made by Cartier in 1929.
- The Greville Festoon Necklace: This was made by Cartier. The two-strand necklace was made in 1929. This was later partially remodelled (original design in illustrated) in 1938, when the shorter three-strand necklace was made to compliment the piece (creating a five-strand necklace).
- The Greville Ivy-leaf brooches: These were made separately by Cartier in 1930 and 1937 respectively. They were bequeathed to the Queen Mother by Mrs. Greville in 1942; and later given to Princess Elizabeth as a 21st birthday-present.
- The Courtauld Thomson Scallop-shell Brooch: This was made in 1919, to the designs of Lord Courtauld Thomson. His sister, Miss Winifred Hope left the brooch to the Queen Mother in 1944.
- The Queen's Engagement Ring and Wedding Bracelet: These were both made from the stones taken from one of Princess Andrew's Tiaras (Prince Philip's Mother). It is illustrated that the tiara that was dismantled was the one which many speculated was used to create the small rosette tiara of the Countess of Wessex. This is now ruled impossible as the tiara was dismantled in 1947.
- The Queen's Nizam of Hyderbad Tiara: This was made in 1939 by Cartier. It is confirmed that this tiara was dismantled in 1973, with the stones being used to create the Burmese Ruby Tiara. Only the three rose brooches remain.
- The Queen's Nizam of Hyderbad Neckalce: This was made in 1935 by Cartier with more pendants (original design modified). It was sold in 1936 but returned to Cartier in 1937, until it was purchased by the Nizam in 1947 and gifted to the Princess Elizabeth for her wedding.
- The Queen's Baguette and Brilliant Bracelet: This small bracelet, it is revealed was purchased from Garrard in 1949 and gifted from George VI to Princess Elizabeth.
- The Queen's Festoon Necklace: It is revealed that this three-strand necklace with triangular motifs was made in 1950 using 105 loose stones from the King's Collection. It was later shortened by 10 stones in 1953.
- The Queen's King Faisal Necklace: It is revealed that this was made by Harry Winston in 1952, yet it was not purchased until 1967 when it was gifted to the Queen.
- The Queen's King Khalid Necklace: This was made in 1977 by Harry Winston. It was gifted to the Queen in 1979.
There are scores of illustrations and images in this book. Including photographs taken from 'Queen Mary's Jewellery Inventory' which seems to have been an extensive album of photographs catalogue her whole collection. Many of the pieces in which have since been remodelled. Images include: - The Ladies of England Necklace/Tiara - The Delhi-Durbar Stomacher - The Surrey Tiara - Queen Victoria's Wedding Gift Necklace/Tiara - Queen Mary's Pearl Stomacher - The Duchess of Gloucester Earrings in their original form.
It has also been revealed that far from dying and leaving no instructions as to the distribution of her jewels; despite leaving no will, Queen Alexandra left a detailed inventory with notes detailing to whom the jewel should pass to. Thus showing that there was method to the dispersion of her collection.
All pieces discussed in the book are illustrated with both HQ and 'actual size' photographs, as well as many pictures of the pieces being worn.
I will be happy to type out the more detailed quotes if anyone wants clarification on some of the points raised above.
on May 8, 2012, 12:12 pm