I must confess I am not well-read in the field of Spanish aristocracy, nor did I know of the Countess earlier, but such jewels deserved researching.
Incidentally, your remark about the fringe brooch reminded me a a very similar, and contemporary, example (didn't we discuss this tiara in another thread?):
Georgina Leonora Barnard Douglas (née Mosselmans), Marchioness of Queensberry, by Bassano Ltd, whole-plate glass negative, 27 April 1922 (NPG x121507)
People do have weird ideas...
Congratulations Thomas! I can imagine the amount of research which has gone into this extremely interesting post. For once I was left almost speechless as I read your post!
Both the lady, the Countess of Villagonzalo, and her jewels are totally new to me.
I wonder if the central element of the lower section of the double tiara did not appeal to the Countess, as on both occasions she has attached a fringe brooch? Or perhaps that was a contemporary fashion which she followed? I feel that the fringe brooch detracts from the original design. What do others think?
I would love to see a photo of her wearing the lower section of the tiara as a choker.
I suspect that, to enable the fringe necklace/tiara to be worn almost as a corsage ornament outlining the neckline of her gown, a back chain was attached to the necklace. Or, perhaps the jewel has been sewn onto the grown? Because in the photo the necklace sits slightly asymmetrically, I am inclined to the former idea. Any thoughts?
Many thanks Thomas.
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