Ears-of-Wheat diadem and the 1901 Wedding Gift ParureArchived Message
Posted by Henri M on April 6, 2014, 11:12 am
Yesterday in the weekly program Blauw Bloed (Blue Blood) the jewelry expert Martijn Akkerman discussed some lost jewels.
He stated that the Ears-of-Wheat Diadem had 10 diamond ears. In the 1950's Queen Juliana apparently ordered to remove two diamond ears and remodel these in brooches. These were given as a cadeau to two Hofdames (Ladies-in-Waiting) of the Queen.
The partly broken-up Wedding Gift Parure 1901 was also discussed. Martijn Akkerman claimed that diadem was impractical: Queen Wilhelmina has never worn it apart for photoshoots. I believe on this board it was proven with a picture that Queen Wilhelmina wore the huge diadem during a concert.
That the diadem was broken up was known, the fate of the mirroring necklace was unknown. Martijn Akkerman claimed that both the diadem and the necklace were broken up to create personal bijoux for the daughters of Queen Juliana. At least the diadem was broken up, in the book Juwelen van het Huis Oranje-Nassau by René Brus only the dismantling of the diadem is mentioned. A few years ago some diamond-and-sapphire lozenges from the necklace appeared on a newly made diadem, so at least (parts of) the necklace is still existing.
The diamond-and-sapphire earrings and bracelets for the four daughters seem not to match with the hundreds of diamonds and sapphires in the broken up diadem and its mirroring necklace. The last word is not spoken yet.
Well, now the two Hofdames who got the diamond ears from Queen Juliana. It would be great of these original ears could be researched and purchased back but of course it can not be too difficult to create replicas and restore the original 10 Ears-of-Wheat.
From PPE Agency - Princess Aimée van Oranje-Nassau, Van Vollenhoven with 8 diamond ears-of-wheat
on April 6, 2014, 11:12 am