Priscilla, Countess Annesley at the ball at the Austrian Embassy in December 1935.
It seemed to me that Priscilla, Countess Annesley was wearing a significant tiara, which might be a family heirloom.
After looking at the evidence currently available to me, I have my doubts.
I now also wonder just how much of the jewellery shown in photos of Priscilla, Countess Annesley was real -- as opposed to clever imitation jewellery.
The reason for my queries is that, when Priscilla, Countess Annesley was robbed in early 1936, the press reports noted that the thieves had taken only the real jewels and left those which were realistic imitations.
I didn't find a list of the jewels stolen, but a report of the conviction of some involved mentioned bracelets, 4 pairs of earrings etc.
So, the major question in my mind is -- how much of the jewellery seen in the following photographs is real?
Those queries seem particularly relevant when the value of the estate of Priscilla, Countess Annesley is taken into account. When her estate was probated in early 1942 the value was just under 7 thousand pounds sterling, and there was no mention of jewels.
The other factors I tried to taken into account are --
1. Her husband, the 5th Earl, died in 1908. I couldn't find any photos of her daughter-in-law (wife of her step-son) wearing grand jewels.
2. I couldn't find photos of Priscilla's own daughters wearing grand jewels, but I have not done an exhaustive search on the two ladies.
3. I haven't found any of the subsequent Countesses wearing the jewels which feature in the photos of Priscilla, so I doubt if the jewels were family heirlooms. If they had been, I suspect that subsequent Earls would have reclaimed them after the death of Priscilla's husband in 1908, and in particular after the death of the 6th Earl in 1914.
For the history of how the earldom has been inherited see https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Earl_Annesley
I suspect that the jewels worn by Priscilla in the early years of her marriage were real.
Some of them were stolen in August 1908 while she and her husband were staying at the Metropole Hotel while attending the Dublin Horse Show.
A list of some of the jewels stolen in 1908.
I think that the brooch with the double diamond heart might be the one seen in the photo below.
Detail
Other jewels
A tiara seen in a 1902 publication.
A ring seen in another photo from the same sitting as above.
At a fancy dress ball in 1913.
A tiara, necklace and stomacher in a 1912 publication.
A tiara seen in an 1897 publication.
One of the more interesting jewels which I think might have been imitation is a tiara which Priscilla wore to the opera in 1934.
The Sketch 9 May 1934 described it as --
The Tatler 5 May 1934 carried this photo
Another tiara which I suspect was an imitation is this one worn in July 1934.
The 1930s was an era when a lot of imitation jewellery was worn, and it was becoming fashionable to do so.
Whether some of Priscilla, Countess Annesley's jewels were imitation is something I cannot resolve with any certainty, but I think the chances of their being so is high.
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