I am not sure when she initially commenced doing this work, which at times the press reported as a hobby. It may be that she was doing this work prior to and during her marriage. Or, she may have only taken this up after her divorce in 1900.
The first press reports I have found (so far) testifying to her skills as an enameller date from 1903. Below are a few.
{Please note that, at this time, Princess Marie Louise was called Princess Louise of Schleswig Holstein and her sister was called Princess Victoria]
It is possible that Princess Marie Louise (and her sister perhaps) were giving items made by Marie Louise as gifts even earlier.
Enamel gifts by Princess Marie Louise
1901
I wondered if it was simply an interest in enamel work which might have prompted the choice of the Princesses for the gift above (and it may be so) but then I found information that Princess Marie Louise was also skilled at gold smith work - so it is possible, but not proven, that she made items with gemstones. [Even at that time the setting of gemstones was a separate occupation from being a jeweller/goldsmith. I have never found evidence that the Princess set gemstones herself]
Princess as a goldsmith.
1907
There are numerous press reports of Princess Marie Louise making and selling her enamel items of jewellery for charitable organisations.
Obviously, even allowing for the hyperbole of the press, she was a competent enameller, but I doubt if she will be remembered as a "great enameller" as I have never seen examples of her work come up in auctions and been acclaimed as " great" etc. But perhaps they have slipped under the radar.
I have seen items saying that she made items for Edward VII
and Queen Alexandra
but (so far) I have not found evidence of this on the Royal Collection site.
Photos of Princess Marie Louise at her craft
1905
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