History of Famous Jewels and Collections: Re: Queen Ena's Pearl

Impressive work Thomas !

Thank you so much !

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There is very little in the UK press about the Dukes of Abercorn owning the pearl which was sold to Richard Burton; the pearl which then and subsequently has been referred to as La Peregrina.

When the Yussopov pearl was displayed in London in 1935 the press apparently initially called it La Peregrina. The press noted that the Duke and Duchess of Abercorn were taken aback to hear this, but relieved to know that their pearl was still in the bank vault. They took their pearl to show the organisers that two pearls existed.

Perhaps the most interesting part of the news report below is the statement that the Duchess had worn the pearl only 2 or 3 times for court functions. As she had become Duchess in 1913, even allowing for the war years when no grand courts were held, she didn't wear it very often. Either it wasn't to the Duchess' taste or she thought it too valuable to remove from the bank frequently.

Interestingly the pearl was mentioned in just about all the obituaries when the Duke died in 1953, and the story of it being sold by Napoleon III to the first Duke was noted.

When the pearl was sold to Richard Burton it was a pendant on a pearl chain.

And initially Elizabeth Taylor wore it this way, although the chain appears to have been looped around her neck so that the jewel rested on her chest.

It would be interesting to know if the pearl had been set in another setting previously, although considering the era of the third Duchess having it as a pendant to a sautoir style chain would have fitted with the fashions throughout the 1920s and 1930s.

Duchess of Abercorn circa 1914.