Yes, Mauriz is correct. I had mixed up my cuttings. I will delete that cutting in a few minutes (and acknowledge my mistake)
I have now read the article which 992234177 initially mentioned in the first post. It is incredibly interesting.
After reading it, I am inclined to think that the necklace worn by Mary Curzon with the peacock dress is the fake sapphire necklace. 992234177 I think that the information about it is probably covered by footnote 88 which cites Mary Curzon's letter of 31 May 1901 to her mother.
In her paper, "Embodying imperial spectacle: dressing Lady Curzon, Vicereine of India 1899-1905", on page 383 Nicola Thomas has a photograph of Mary Curzon at what the media called the Centenary Ball in 1903.
This is the one for which there are many references to Lady Curzon wearing a ruby necklace.
Interestingly, it is a description relating to the Durbar State Ball which seems to match the necklace worn to the later Centenary Ball. It was claimed that the 4 rubies had once been owned by King Thibaw (or Theebaw), the last King of Burma.
What ever the reality, we do know from her will that Lady Curzon owned rubies, and if it was the ruby necklace which was worn to the Centenary Ball, it is different from the sapphire worn with the peacock dress.
Centenary Ball necklace
In the paper Nicola Thomas describes another costume ball, Lady Curzon's last in India, held in October 1905. For this Mary Curzon adapted part of her dress for the Centenary ball and wore a necklace as a head ornament. For this pageant Mary Curzon dressed as Berengaria of Navarre.
I suspect that it was the full length of the sapphires which is draped over her veil, but it is difficult to get a clear impression.
Detail
I wonder if any of Mary Curzon's rubies were inherited by her daughter, Irene, Baroness Ravensdale? See https://mb.boardhost.com/historyroyaljewels/msg/1589015033.html
272
Responses
« Back to index | View thread »