On the other hand: when look the portrait of Maria Anna, the floral tiara high on her coiffure might be a early version of it. She could have gave it to Elisabeth as a wedding gift, too.
Thank you to draw our attention on this beautiful piece of jewellery. Mostly the ruby parure of Empress Elisabeth on focus. The lack of clear pictures of her other treasures makes it hard to discuss them.
Interesting to hear it was originally from 1811 and than several times remodeled. I´m curious what it looked like than and by whom it was used. Was it perhaps a little less fragile like some early 19th centuries tiaras or more than this:
https://www.christies.com/lotfinder/jewelry/eccezionale-antica-tiara-in-diamanti-5507361-details.aspx?from=searchresults&intObjectID=5507361&sid=e1cc30b0-670f-4121-a30c-dd9eeeafd2b9 Than they haven´t to alter it…(so beautiful. I´m in love with it, ehmm)
There are three possible owner oft the tiara in my mind: (Attention: these are theories!)
Maria Ludovika of Austria-Este, born in 1787, married in 1808 Emperor Franz II. She died in 1816 childless. If it comes from her, it might be in the treasury since her death.
Caroline Augusta of Bavaria, born in 1792, she married first Wilhelm of Württemberg. After an annullment she was in 1816 married to the widower of the first. Maybe she had access to the tiara of her successor. Or she already brought her from Bavaria or Württemberg. Widowed in 1835 she died in 1873, but stayed closed to the family. Perhaps she gave the tiara to her niece Elisabeth in 1854 on the occasion oft her marriage to Emperor Franz Josef or the birth of their daughter Gisela in 1856 (a reason for alteration?)
Or maybe, third: Maria Anna of Savoy, born in 1803 and 1831 married to the later Emperor Ferdinand I. http://www.tirolerportraits.it/de/Portraits-suchen.aspx (Search for Maria Anna)
Ferdinand abdicted in 1848. He wasn´t the reigning Emperor any more – but used the title and took all the money. Til his death in 1875 Franz Josef and Elisabeth weren´t "poor" but as Brigitte Hamann, Elisabeth biographer said, "had to be carefully with their resources". So good reasons to suspect that Maria Anna took the jewellery with her to Prague.
I never bet but if I had to I would point to Caroline Augusta. It is said she lived withdrawn and loved her bavarian relatives within the Habsburg family a lot, sisters and niece. So maybe she gaved it to Elisabeth and after Ferdinands death when the Empress had access to much more money she brought it to Köchert for the big alternation – more emeralds…
These are theories, but perhaps anyone else has some more informations…
Any ideas on the piece below? The 1811 diadem was altered in 1847, 1856 & 1864. In 1878 Alexander Köchert was commissioned to create a new one using the leaves, the diamonds & emeralds. It contained 15 emeralds, 63 carats; 1478 diamonds, 272 carats and 2456 diamond rosettes. 10 Years later, in 1888, Heinrich Köchert was asked to add more emeralds. The parure was sold in 1918, current whereabouts unknown.
https://66.media.tumblr.com/c63c2e31c8aca67d1b6160585bc22e66/tumblr_o09tj9omng1um2dk0o1_500.jpg
Regards,
Dave.
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