Portuguese stars Archived Message
Posted by Cristina on July 1, 2014, 4:39 am, in reply to "Re: Braganza jewels � necklaces and sets (edited)"
Dear Karen, its always a pleasure to review these fabulous jewels (I´sure Jorge won´t mind we take a good look at them again ). So, here you have the portuguese stars. Diamond stars were a favourite jewel design in the XIX century, I believe several royal houses have/had them. The Dutch certainly have the biggest collection, I guess. I remember also Queen Alexandra big stars, infanta Eulália star tiara... The portuguese star parure was ordered by Queen Maria Pia to the royal jeweler Estevão de Sousa. She would call the tiara "tiara of the moving stars" because they were set on small spins and they moved when the Queen would walk. Looking at the size of the diamonds in the tiara I´m guessing that it would be an amazing glitter . The fabulous yellow diamond in the center star is called "the Maria Pia". The tiara as we see it now was a recent (and ugly) creation of the jewelers who, in the 1950´s, were comissioned to organize the royal jewels. The tiara was never worn this way. It was worn on a single row, and there were small combs and pins with diamond stars that could be worn in the bodice or as hair ornament (some sources say the parure had also star bracelets). The jeweler just grab all the star pieces and made this ugly frame to display them all . A star necklace was also part of the parure, although I´ve never seen any photo or portrait of Queen Maria Pia nor Queen Amélia wearing it. In the first photo Queen Amélia is wearing the original form of the star tiara. Aparently it had also a row of diamonds covering the frame, It must have been a very beautiful and glitering piece. The queen is also wearing some of the smaller star jewels as corsage ornaments (one in her shoulder to secure the order, most likely three more on the bodice, one of them hidden by the fabric). The second photo is a close-up of the one I posted previously, showing the small star pins as hair ormanents. These jewels are part of the portuguese Crown Jewels and are held at the Ajuda Palace. I was very fortunate to have seen them in a rare exhibition in the 1990´s. To my knowledge they were never displayed in public again. --Previous Message-- : : Thanks to everyone again! While viewing : Cristina's lovely photo of Queen Amelia I'm : intrigued by the beautiful diamond stars in : her hair. They're similar to the Dutch star : brooches to me. I apologize to you Jorge as : we are discussing the stunning necklaces and : sets. I love your Portuguese jewel topics, : it's almost as if a long closed jewelry box : has been opened to the world. : --Previous Message-- : Oh Cristina, you can correct me any time! : I’m always learning. As I saw same hat, : same jewels, same hairdo and similar outfit : I became confused. : What beautiful pictures. The Duchess is : always so elegant! : : It is so good to feel that the members of : this board are liking these threads. I hope : to continue bringing new Braganza jewels for : your delight. : : :
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Message Thread:
- Braganza jewels – necklaces and sets (edited) - Jorge June 29, 2014, 11:34 am
- Re: Braganza jewels – necklaces and sets - Pedro June 29, 2014, 12:13 pm
- Re: Braganza jewels � necklaces and sets - Martina June 29, 2014, 1:32 pm
- Re: Braganza jewels – necklaces and sets - Cristina June 29, 2014, 3:42 pm
- Re: Braganza jewels – necklaces and sets (edited) - Jon C June 29, 2014, 11:59 pm
- Re: Braganza jewels – necklaces and sets (edited) - Cristina June 30, 2014, 7:15 am
- From Pss Michael of Kent's Crown Jewels of Europe - PJ Kiser July 7, 2014, 11:28 am
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