Posted by Torkel on July 30, 2013, 3:21 pm, in reply to "Fife tiara"
I share your surprise here, Nellie. Munn is usually well researched - but he appears to be wrong about this.
There are contemporary news reports describing an exhibition of the gifts. The grand diamond tiara (which we know as the Massin tiara) was exhibited together with other gifts from the groom (including also a necklace of diamonds). The tiara from Edward and Alix is described as a tiara of graduating rays, based on observation from the journalist.
If there is a mistake, it must have started with the journalist making observations.
--Previous Message-- : : Thank you Torkel. I know of the gifts and : the fringe tiara. : However, when I did check in Munn I was : surprised about his remarks for the Fife. : Some extracts: : Plate 103 - "It may well have been a : gift from her mother and father when she : married the sixth Earl and first Duke of : Fife at Buckingham Palace in 1889." : Plate 104 - "If the tiara was made by : Massin it is possible that the Prince of : Wales ordered it as a result of one of his : excursions to Paris." : I'd have thought when Munn was preparing his : mega volume that he would have known of the : published lists of wedding gifts. : : --Previous Message-- : The tiara from Edward and Alix to their : daughter was a fringe tiara. It was : described as: : "of elegant design of alternating and : graduating rays, varying from nearly two : inches long in the centre to half an inch at : the extreme ends” and “not dissimilar to : that which the Princess of Wales herself : wears upon State occasions”. : : I suppose the later reference is to the : Silver wedding present received by the : Princess of Wales a couple of years earlier. : : : :