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Lady Kilmorey's jewels
Posted by Beth on March 20, 2019, 7:03 pm
I am sure that everyone knows that Lady Kilmorey was the mistress of Prince Francis of Teck who left her the Cambridge emeralds, later acquired and reset by Queen Mary into her so called Delhi Durbar parure.
Although she is mentioned very frequently in the press there are very few photos of her and even less showing her wearing evening jewels.
Like most brides in the upper echelons of society in the latter part of the nineteenth century, she acquired a number of jewels at the time of her wedding.
The press does not seem to have had any sketches of these gifts, so it is almost impossible to gauge what they looked like.
For the coronation in 1902 she wore a strikingly modern tiara and necklace.
which according to the press had been made in France.
Although Lady Kilmorey may have had the tiara made for the coronation, it was not the first time she had worn it.
It had been worn to a function at Landsdown House in July 1902.
When her eldest son married in February 1920 she gave her daughter-in-law a diamond tiara as a wedding gift.
The only photo I can find of her daughter-in-law wearing a tiara suggests the latter is not wearing the tiara Nellie Kilmorey wore to the 1902 coronation, although it is based on a similar design.
A 1937 photo which I suspect was taken at the time of the 1937 coronation.
I suspect that the tiara worn by Lady Kilmorey in 1937 is the choker her mother-in-law wore in 1902. What do others think?
1902 - choker. There is a collet necklace below it.
Nice research Beth as usual and very interesting topic on one of history's prominent courtesans. Mind you she is pretty and looks close biologically to QM. Her jewels are just grand looking and looks antique and exquisite. Thanks for supplying us with this post. So much jewels one would receive for one's wedding, was it just the culture or or does it relates to the wealth of society at the time?
Regards,
Dave.
Previous Message
I am sure that everyone knows that Lady Kilmorey was the mistress of Prince Francis of Teck who left her the Cambridge emeralds, later acquired and reset by Queen Mary into her so called Delhi Durbar parure.
Although she is mentioned very frequently in the press there are very few photos of her and even less showing her wearing evening jewels.
Like most brides in the upper echelons of society in the latter part of the nineteenth century, she acquired a number of jewels at the time of her wedding.
The press does not seem to have had any sketches of these gifts, so it is almost impossible to gauge what they looked like.
For the coronation in 1902 she wore a strikingly modern tiara and necklace.
which according to the press had been made in France.
Although Lady Kilmorey may have had the tiara made for the coronation, it was not the first time she had worn it.
It had been worn to a function at Landsdown House in July 1902.
When her eldest son married in February 1920 she gave her daughter-in-law a diamond tiara as a wedding gift.
The only photo I can find of her daughter-in-law wearing a tiara suggests the latter is not wearing the tiara Nellie Kilmorey wore to the 1902 coronation, although it is based on a similar design.
A 1937 photo which I suspect was taken at the time of the 1937 coronation.
I suspect that the tiara worn by Lady Kilmorey in 1937 is the choker her mother-in-law wore in 1902. What do others think?
1902 - choker. There is a collet necklace below it.
Many thanks for this post Beth! Lady Kilmorey was virtually unknown to me, except for the fact that she had been Prince Francis’ mistress.
Although the choker-tiara shown here looks frankly ugly (like a garden fence of sorts), the tiara is somewhat more pleasant. It must indeed have made an impression on the other Edwardian ladies.
I wonder if it was made by Chaumet, for they produced similarly modern pieces in the early 1900s.
Edit: have you checked the collection of the National Portrait Gallery to see if they have other photographs of Lady Kilmorey? I am sorry I don’t have more time to do it myself.
Sadly for us Lady Kilmorey appears to have been one of those ladies who did not provide the media with photos of herself in grand jewels. As she lived before photographers were allowed to take snaps inside society evening events, there are only photos of her in day dress in the media.
The National Portrait Gallery, UK has only 2 images of Lady Kilmorey, both the same. As the photo, which appears to be from the Devonshire House Ball in 1897, does not show any noteworthy jewels, I didn't post it. Perhaps I should have, as it does show her collet diamond necklace more clearly.
Detail
Edit: have you checked the collection of the National Portrait Gallery to see if they have other photographs of Lady Kilmorey? I am sorry I don’t have more time to do it myself.
Sadly for us Lady Kilmorey appears to have been one of those ladies who did not provide the media with photos of herself in grand jewels. As she lived before photographers were allowed to take snaps inside society evening events, there are only photos of her in day dress in the media.
The National Portrait Gallery, UK has only 2 images of Lady Kilmorey, both the same. As the photo, which appears to be from the Devonshire House Ball in 1897, does not show any noteworthy jewels, I didn't post it. Perhaps I should have, as it does show her collet diamond necklace more clearly.
Detail
Edit: have you checked the collection of the National Portrait Gallery to see if they have other photographs of Lady Kilmorey? I am sorry I don’t have more time to do it myself.