Posted by Boffer on March 24, 2012, 6:51 pm, in reply to "Re: Fringe Tiara"
Our only hope for clarification will be this new publication, and for any queries that it doesn't solve, it might be the case that we will have to ask for clarification, by contacting the collection directly.
I think Munn relied heavily on sources from the royal archives, and the archives of the jewellers, in connection with his chapter on the British Royal Jewels. In this research he would have been heavily aided and supervised by the Royal Collection, which makes me trust his work.
No doubt his source that the "Queen Adelaide Fringe" was made by Rundell's and the information that it used "family diamonds" all came from the Rundell's ledger, which is no doubt, kept in the Royal Archives. So I think he is to be trusted on this account.
I doubt Wartski will become the new Crown Jewellers, as they tend to deal in antique jewellery, rather than actually making it themselves. I predict it will either be another small independent jewellery firm that the Royal Family has used in the past, to make their various commissions. I wonder if it will return to one of the big jewellery houses, as they are nowadays all owned by various large 'parent' companies. Perhaps an antique jewellers, that specialises in repairs, such as Bentley and Skinner, which already owned a Royal Warrant could be a contender.
--Previous Message-- : : Thanks Boffer. : With the zoom it is good to see that the : tiara is of the conventional fringe style, : that is, with the tiny spikes between the : large ones. : : I do hope we get a fuller story of the : fringes in the collection today and where : each came from. Could be five or more I : reckon. : : The mentions of Munn are very good to see : but I am wondering if their researchers : today are going back to original sources : often enough. Munn's own sources for this : information would be good to know. We know : how they published incorrect information : when relying solely on Field. : : By the way, my tip for Crown Jeweller is : someone at Wartski. Do you have any ideas? : : : --Previous Message-- : An interesting new bit of information, : concerning the fringe tiara of Queen : Victoria. : : It states that here the Queen wears a : "fringe necklace had been set with : family diamonds for Q. Adelaide and adapted : for Queen Victoria to wear as a : diadem". : : This could well be the piece that is now : referred to commonly as the Hanoverian or : George III fringe. : : The royal collection also refer to it here, : in relation to The First of May painting, as : they say: : "Queen Victoria wears a diadem of a : sunray design said to have been made by : Rundell’s for Queen Adelaide". : : They also reference Munn, who argues, p.70: : "On the Queen's head is a diamond : diadem of sunday form, said to have been set : by Rundell's for Queen Queen Adelaide using : family diamonds." : : Although now, what these actually refer to, : whether or not they are one and the same : pieces, or actually two separate pieces. And : what has happened to both the piece and the : stones now, is yet another question and : mystery to be solved. : :
on March 24, 2012, 6:51 pm, in reply to "