[ Message Archive | Royal Jewels of the World Message Board ]

    Re: Queen Victoria's Russian Turquoises | Royal Jewels Archived Message

    Posted by Beth on July 17, 2016, 3:20 am, in reply to "Queen Victoria's Russian Turquoises | Royal Jewels"

    Thank you Laura and Ursula for another very interesting article. I always enjoy them so much. What a great find, Laura! Your ability to uncover significant information, which eludes the rest of us, is something I admire and am very grateful for.

    Because Laura's research adds such a significant element to our knowledge of Queen Victoria's jewels, I have hesitated to post the information below; however, I have finally decided to open up discussion as, in my opinion, the image used in the article on the Royal Magazin site cannot show the Russian turquoises.

    Some posters may recollect that I have previously said that I do not think Queen Victoria was depicted wearing turquoises in this illustration.


    The National Portrait Gallery, UK states that this image by Posselwhite, after a work by Henry Corbould, was published in 1843.

    Laura notes in her article that Queen Victoria recorded wearing the new parure made from the Russian turquoises for the first time on 16 November 1843. http://royal-magazin.de/england/queen-victoria/Victoria-turquoise-jewels-parure.htm which allows for the possibility that this image does depict the Russian turquoises.

    Although I have not found an image of the original work done by Corbould or a date for it, the Royal Collection has an entry about Posselwhite's image and gives a publication date of 24 May 1843 which is printed on the work. http://www.royalcollection.org.uk/collection/605662/her-majesty-queen-victoria


    In addition, the Royal Collection has the following entry which proves that the image we are familiar with was originally done in 1841 and slightly changed for the image published in May 1843. http://www.royalcollection.org.uk/collection/630193/queen-victoria

    What ever gemstones are in Queen Victoria's jewels in the image under question, they cannot be the Russian turquoises.

    I believe that the irregular shape of the stones indicates that they may be opals, but I have no documentary proof of that. I suspect that the brooch has an elongated pear shaped pearl as a pendant to an opal which might have had stronger/darker colours than those in the necklace - if the gemstones are opals.


    Thank you Laura for sharing your research with us.

    --Previous Message--
    : Laura was so kind and did a lot of research
    : about the turquoises.
    : Another step, not the solution, in the great
    : puzzle of jewel history.
    : Well here we go, an absolut fantastic story
    : and details about the Turquoise Parures.
    : Hope you enjoy it....and wish a nice weekend
    :

    Message Thread: