Princess Maria Pia di Savoia's diamonds and baroque pearls tiaraArchived Message
Posted by Carlo on November 24, 2014, 1:54 pm
In the book "Gioielli di Casa Savoia", by Princess Maria Gabriella di Savoia and Stefano Papi, it is written that King Umberto II, during the years in exile, had two tiaras made for his elder daughters, Maria Pia and Maria Gabriella, from jewels in his possession.
It says that the one made for Princess Maria Pia was made from a baroque pearls and diamonds "ornement de corsage" which had belonged to his mother, Queen Elena of Italy.
I had no idea what did this original jewel looked like, until I came across this portrait of HM Queen Elena wearing this wreath of diamonds and baroque pearls across her bodice, and suddenly I understood.
And here is Princess Maria Pia's tiara made from the previous jewel:
and here is HRH Princess Maria Gabriella borrowing her sister's tiara: