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    Re: Queen Victoria & some rubies Archived Message

    Posted by Lucas on November 19, 2012, 4:04 pm, in reply to "Queen Victoria & some rubies"

    That jewel on her head is called a ferronnière,
    a jewel held to the forehead by a chain worn by women in France and Italy in the 16th century to hide the marks of syphilis. The ferronière returned in the 19th century when syphilis was epidemic in Europe. Named for Madame Ferron, mistress of the French king François I.

    See also at Wikipedia : La belle ferronnière


    --Previous Message--
    : Are people familiar with this portrait and its
    : jewels? Was curious particularly about the
    : piece on her head.
    :

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