I really like this tiara - so refined and elegant. It's strange that we know so little about Victoria of Kent's jewelry-box. So little have survived up to the present days in the royal collection...
Thanks Christian. I think it is a particularly beautiful tiara. I wonder if it has survived somewhere.
--Previous Message-- : : : Thank you dear Nellie - : : I really like this tiara - so refined and : elegant. It's strange that we know so little : about Victoria of Kent's jewelry-box. So : little have survived up to the present days : in the royal collection... :
--Previous Message-- : : Some more casual browsing of the Royal : Collection has come up with this beautiful : tiara in a now familiar style. : Try the zoom for best effect. : : : http://www.royalcollection.org.uk/collection/407127 : : : : "Without social history, economic history is barren and political history is intelligible" G.M. Trevelyan
I doubt that this was remodelled by Albert, since the scrolling motif was very popular in jewellery throughout the 19th Century, so it is just as likely that Albert designed that without ever seeing his mother-in-law's tiara.
All of the Duchess of Kent's jewels passed to Queen Victoria upon her death and from there, the most important pieces stayed in with the Queen and are now still in the present Queen's collection (such as the Amethyst Demi-Parure). The rest was slowly distributed amongst Victoria's children and grand-children over time, as gifts to them on important occasions such as birthdays, engagements, marriages etc... Often, as was characteristic of Queen Victoria, they were engraved with their provenance and the occasion. Such as this brooch:
Which was gifted to Princess Helena for her 24 Birthday and as such is engraved on the back with: “Belonged to dear Grandmamma V. From Mama V.R. to Helena 25th May 1870."
The likelihood is that if this tiara was not remodelled by the Duchess of Kent herself, it after all appears that it was worn fairly early on, during the regency period and as such it could have been remodelled later on in her life. If this is not the case, then it would have passed to Queen Victoria in 1861, and would have either been gifted away to a member of her family (perhaps to one of her many grandchildren as a wedding present). Or it could still remain in the Queen Collection, which is a possibility that I highly doubt.
--Previous Message-- : : Well spotted. : Could be a bit of recycling went on under : Albert's "arranging" ? : : : --Previous Message-- : : : The motifs are very similar to Queen : Victoria's emerald tiara. : : : : : : :
