Regards,
Dave.
The famous Murat pearl tiara created by Chaumet in 1920 for the marriage of Yvonne Gillios and Prince Alexandre Murat was sold by Sotheby's in 2012.
http://www.sothebys.com/en/auctions/ecatalogue/2012/magnificent-jewels-and-noble-jewels/lot.594.html
The lot notes, written by Diana Scarisbrick, have surprisingly little information about the source of the three large pearls, although she states that the Chaumet records indicate that the Prince supplied them.
All the pearls are significant, but the central one is a very large pearl.
As significantly large pearls do not materialise without public comment, I am surprised that there is not more information about it.
Has anyone read more about this pearl?
I have identified 2 significantly large gem quality pearls found in Western Australia prior to the creation date of the tiara (1920) but one, according to press reports, would have been too large, being said to be an inch and a quarter in length
Pearl found in 1901 which was an inch and a quarter long.
and the other, said to be an oval about half an inch in length, weighed 100 grains -- so much smaller in weight than the central pearl in the Murat tiara. This pearl was referred to in the press as the Star of the West. See https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/22193812 (I have yet to track down when Christie's sold this pearl)
I have not yet found an image of Princess Yvonne Murat wearing this tiara, but there are images of it being worn by Ines De Luynes on 5 June 1960 when she married Napoleon Murat.
I noticed that the tiara was exhibited in London in 1961, and is mentioned in 3 books, none of which I have. If anyone has information, I would be interested to know the background to at least the largest pearl. It seems incredible that such a large pearl has flown under the radar.
One outdoor photo from the 1960 wedding allows the size of the central pearl to be more fully appreciated.
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