[ Message Archive | Royal Jewels of the World Message Board ]

    The Diamond Knot brooch of The Duchess of Newcastle Archived Message

    Posted by Barbara D. on September 29, 2012, 5:19 pm

    In Point de Vue No 3348 is a very interesting article (Quelle Histoire) from Vincent Meylan about a phantastic and stunning Diamond Knot brooch which re-appeared recently after being disappeared for more than half a century.



    http://images.npg.org.uk/800_800/3/0/mw126430.jpg

    Kathleen Florence May (née Candy), Duchess of Newcastle as Princes Darkhov
    (at a costume ball in London, 1894)
    by Arthur Albert ('Esmé') Collings, photogravure by Walker & Boutall



    http://images.npg.org.uk/800_800/1/1/mw140111.jpg

    Kathleen Florence May (née Candy), Duchess of Newcastle     by Bassano
    (in her robes for the Coronation of King George VII and Queen Elizabeth, 1937)

    both pictures linked from National Portrait Gallery's website www.npg.org.uk


    The brooch is worn on the corsage and is more than tweny centimeters in diameter and made of all diamonds.

    Vincent Meylans article says, that French Empress Eugénie ordered in 1863 two huge knot brooches from the jeweller Babst for fixing her court coat on her shoulders. These jewels were sold in 1887 along with all French Crown Jewels.

    Two years after this auction, a young woman, aged 17, Florence Candy, married the Duke of Newcastle. One thinks, that she got one of these amazing Diamond Knots as a wedding present. The brooch turned out to become the favourite jewel of the young Duchess. The Diamond Knot brooch was seen for the last time in public in 1937 when HG wore it for the coronation of King George VII and Queen Elizabeth (see second portrait above).

    When The Duchess of Newcastle passed away in 1955 without issue, the wonderful diamond brooch disappeared. The Duchess' belongings were spread within her remote relatives. Since this type of jewels was not very fashionable in the late 50s of the last century, the jewel most likely was sold unremarked.

    It unexpectedly re-appeared after more than half a century at the Biennale des antiquaires in Paris on the stall of Martin du Daffoy. It was also Mr du Daffoy who detected this amazing brooch a few days before the opening of the Biennale.

    So far the article in PdV, what a phantastic story!

    But also the other jewels The Duchess wears on the 'coronation' portrait are amazing. Just to mention the two huge anchor brooches (which look somehow familiar to me...), the emerald and diamond necklace and this spectacular aigrette. A huge emerald and diamond stomacher, put on a bandeau of diamonds and I particularly like the swirled-circles necklace... .

    Message Thread: