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The puzzle of Queen Adelaide's fringe. Some ideas
Posted by Beth on March 8, 2019, 7:02 am
Since I discovered the photo of Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother wearing a fringe necklace in 1947 the possible origin of the necklace has intrigued me.
One possibility is that the jewel came from Mrs Greville.
The other is that this necklace is the one referred to as Queen Adelaide's fringe tiara/necklace.
I think that I had been lured into ignoring that possibility by concentrating on photos which show the jewel in a more rigid formation. Clearly, when worn as a tiara by Queen Victoria and Queen Mary the frame kept the individual fringes upright and rigid.
When Queen Alexandra wore the jewel at her waist for her coronation the jewel also appeared rigid in most photos. (I have no doubt that, to keep it in place, it was sewn onto her dress at strategic intervals)
Nevertheless, a high resolution photo of Queen Alexandra seated suggests that the individual elements (the bars and spikes) could move independently -- that is they were not soldered to one another forming a rigid whole. I wonder if the bars and spikes were threaded onto silk?
Similarly, when Queen Victoria wore the jewel as a border to the neckline of her gown, the jewel looks relatively flexible.
When looking at the left hand side of the photo below the individual elements give the impression of being at different angles, which I think would be possible if the elements were threaded on silk.
If, when worn as a necklace, the elements were threaded onto silk, it might be possible that QEQM wore it like that in 1947, and that would explain why the elements appear almost as a jumbled mess, the elements having been disarranged by movement.
Later photographs showing QEQM wearing the jewel suggest that the necklace was more rigid and shorter, as it sits closer to her neck.
Although Hugh Roberts in The Queen's Diamonds does not provide a date, at some time the necklace was shortened by 6 graduated diamond bars and 5 spikes. Could it be that QEQM did this at some time after 1947 and before the first photos we are aware of showing her wearing the necklace? And at the same time had the individual elements adjusted to form a more rigid necklace?
Re: The puzzle of Queen Adelaide's fringe. Some ideas
Impressive photos Beth. I too when I saw the first picture some time ago also wondered if the necklace had a provenance outside of the royal family. But it is quite plausible that it is the one used by QA. What I do find more impressive though is the diamond bracelet with the massive stones entailed. It is featured on both Queens V&A and I wonder if same was not worn by QM and passed down to our present Queen? I'm surprised that this post has not generated much more interest. But it is a good query all together.
Regards,
Dave.
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Since I discovered the photo of Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother wearing a fringe necklace in 1947 the possible origin of the necklace has intrigued me.
One possibility is that the jewel came from Mrs Greville.
The other is that this necklace is the one referred to as Queen Adelaide's fringe tiara/necklace.
I think that I had been lured into ignoring that possibility by concentrating on photos which show the jewel in a more rigid formation. Clearly, when worn as a tiara by Queen Victoria and Queen Mary the frame kept the individual fringes upright and rigid.
When Queen Alexandra wore the jewel at her waist for her coronation the jewel also appeared rigid in most photos. (I have no doubt that, to keep it in place, it was sewn onto her dress at strategic intervals)
Nevertheless, a high resolution photo of Queen Alexandra seated suggests that the individual elements (the bars and spikes) could move independently -- that is they were not soldered to one another forming a rigid whole. I wonder if the bars and spikes were threaded onto silk?
Similarly, when Queen Victoria wore the jewel as a border to the neckline of her gown, the jewel looks relatively flexible.
When looking at the left hand side of the photo below the individual elements give the impression of being at different angles, which I think would be possible if the elements were threaded on silk.
If, when worn as a necklace, the elements were threaded onto silk, it might be possible that QEQM wore it like that in 1947, and that would explain why the elements appear almost as a jumbled mess, the elements having been disarranged by movement.
Later photographs showing QEQM wearing the jewel suggest that the necklace was more rigid and shorter, as it sits closer to her neck.
Although Hugh Roberts in The Queen's Diamonds does not provide a date, at some time the necklace was shortened by 6 graduated diamond bars and 5 spikes. Could it be that QEQM did this at some time after 1947 and before the first photos we are aware of showing her wearing the necklace? And at the same time had the individual elements adjusted to form a more rigid necklace?
Re: The puzzle of Queen Adelaide's fringe. Some ideas
Many thanks Beth for bringing this hypothesis. I think that its very likely the Queen Mother wore Queen Adelaide's fringe ! I too think it always looks messy when worn
I think Queen Victoria is also wearing it as corsage fringe on that earlier photo.
J-F
Re: The puzzle of Queen Adelaide's fringe. Some ideas
Many thanks J-F. The photo you posted of Queen Victoria (is it from the set taken when she "recreated" her wedding day for additional photos?) shows clearly that, as a necklace, the jewel was very flexible.
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Hello,
Many thanks Beth for bringing this hypothesis. I think that its very likely the Queen Mother wore Queen Adelaide's fringe ! I too think it always looks messy when worn
I think Queen Victoria is also wearing it as corsage fringe on that earlier photo.
Dave, the large diamond bracelet worn by Queen Alexandra was left to the Crown by Queen Victoria.
According to Hugh Roberts in The Queen's Diamonds it was made in 1838.
Queen Victoria wore it frequently.
Queen Alexandra wore it for her coronation as seen in the photos in the first post.
For the first Opening of Parliament by Edward VII.
1905 for the wedding of Princess Margaret of Connaught
Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother was photographed wearing it over many decades.
After QEII ascended the throne, HM and her mother appear to have shared the bracelet. QEII was photographed wearing it many years before her mother's death.
QEII wearing the bracelet in 1969
In Turkey in 2008
I don't seem to have any images of Queen Mary wearing the bracelet. Does anyone know if HM wore it? I cannot imagine her NOT wearing a significant bracelet with large diamonds!
Wonderful research as always, Beth! I have been planning a series on Queen Victoria's 'top 20 jewels' to mark the bicentenary of her birth and this is one of the pieces I'm hoping to cover! It really bothers me how many times Queen Mary's Fringe has been mislabeled, even by the Palace, as the Hanoverian Fringe Tiara, which in fact is Queen Adelaide's fringe!
I wonder if the Queen will ever wear Queen Adelaide's fringe, since she doesn't seem too fond of the other diamond fringe pieces she owns, and her gala events have greatly decreased in recent years! I feel this one would look lovely on the Duchess of Cornwall, who carries off big necklaces with much aplomb!
Re: The puzzle of Queen Adelaide's fringe. Some ideas
Its a real pleasure to share photos and knowledge.
J-F
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Wonderful research as always, Beth! I have been planning a series on Queen Victoria's 'top 20 jewels' to mark the bicentenary of her birth and this is one of the pieces I'm hoping to cover! It really bothers me how many times Queen Mary's Fringe has been mislabeled, even by the Palace, as the Hanoverian Fringe Tiara, which in fact is Queen Adelaide's fringe!
I wonder if the Queen will ever wear Queen Adelaide's fringe, since she doesn't seem too fond of the other diamond fringe pieces she owns, and her gala events have greatly decreased in recent years! I feel this one would look lovely on the Duchess of Cornwall, who carries off big necklaces with much aplomb!
on March 8, 2019, 7:02 am
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