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Queen Victoria's pear drop pearl earrings
Posted by Beth on September 15, 2018, 7:07 pm
According to Leslie Field, the large pear shaped drop pearl earrings now worn by QEII were given to Queen Victoria by Prince Albert in 1847, and that is now accepted by most.
Field does not give any source for her assertion.
I would expect that, if Prince Albert had given her such an extravagant gift, Queen Victoria would have recorded it in her journals as she did with other major and minor gifts from her husband. Unfortunately, there are no references to Prince Albert giving her pearl earrings of any description.
I think that Queen Victoria purchased these pearls herself as, on 25 June 1840, HM recorded that, a few days earlier, she had purchased what she described as a "matchless pair of pearl drops" for 1,400 pounds from an Italian called Fumaroli.
That was a staggering sum of money for two pearls. The expense of these pearls can be demonstrated by comparing the purchase price with the cost of making the Regal Circlet in 1853.
What Prince Albert gave Queen Victoria in 1847 was a pearl brooch for Christmas, the Queen recording the details in her journal on 24 December 1847, describing it as a large brooch with a large pearl encircled with diamonds.
Great post Beth. QV seem to have had a massive jewel collection. One wonders if we would ever really get to see some which have not been seen before or have not shown up for years such as the reported rubies she may have given to her daughter in law QA.
Regards,
Dave.
Previous Message
According to Leslie Field, the large pear shaped drop pearl earrings now worn by QEII were given to Queen Victoria by Prince Albert in 1847, and that is now accepted by most.
Field does not give any source for her assertion.
I would expect that, if Prince Albert had given her such an extravagant gift, Queen Victoria would have recorded it in her journals as she did with other major and minor gifts from her husband. Unfortunately, there are no references to Prince Albert giving her pearl earrings of any description.
I think that Queen Victoria purchased these pearls herself as, on 25 June 1840, HM recorded that, a few days earlier, she had purchased what she described as a "matchless pair of pearl drops" for 1,400 pounds from an Italian called Fumaroli.
That was a staggering sum of money for two pearls. The expense of these pearls can be demonstrated by comparing the purchase price with the cost of making the Regal Circlet in 1853.
What Prince Albert gave Queen Victoria in 1847 was a pearl brooch for Christmas, the Queen recording the details in her journal on 24 December 1847, describing it as a large brooch with a large pearl encircled with diamonds.