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Queen Mary. Re-thinking the origins of her emerald shamrock brooch
Posted by Beth on March 30, 2019, 6:50 pm
It has been generally held that the emerald shamrock brooch worn by Queen Mary (now worn by Princess Michael of Kent) was a wedding gift to HM by Sir Frederick and Lady Milner.
Seen here in a photo originally posted by J-F
I have never felt that this brooch which has 3 leaves matched the description of a brooch of a 4 leaf clover. All the newspaper reports describe it as a 4 leaf clover. Not all can be wrong.
Many of the lists of wedding gifts in the papers describe the brooch as having Chrysoprase, emeralds and diamonds. The brooch (as we have seen it in modern times on Princess Michael) appears to have only emeralds and diamonds.
I recently noticed that Queen Mary was given another gift described as an emerald and diamond trefoil brooch by the Royal St George Yacht Club for her wedding in 1893.
Without an image to verify the Yacht Club gift it is impossible to state categorically that the club gave Queen Mary the brooch, but I think that is a better description than trying to argue the press got the description of the Milner gift wrong.
If the Royal St George Yacht Club (which is located in Dublin) was the donor it would explain why Queen Mary wore it frequently when in Ireland, yet it is not seen at other times.
Re: Queen Mary. Re-thinking the origins of her emerald shamrock brooch
A good show Beth. HM QM's jewels are really beautiful. I wonder if they are some we have not seen and have only read of from her wedding presents left to the main line . Maybe we could do a list of what was left to the other branches the Kent's and Gloucester's, York's and Harewood's leaving probably the others to the main line. I mean from reading what Beth has supplied she was gifted a ruby and feather brooch by the Queen of Spain which I cant recall seeing any other member of her descendants wearing and then they are so many more gifts I gather has been given but never seen, so this is the reason I feel maybe we can dedicate a full thread to Queen Mary.
Regards,
Dave.
Previous Message
It has been generally held that the emerald shamrock brooch worn by Queen Mary (now worn by Princess Michael of Kent) was a wedding gift to HM by Sir Frederick and Lady Milner.
Seen here in a photo originally posted by J-F
I have never felt that this brooch which has 3 leaves matched the description of a brooch of a 4 leaf clover. All the newspaper reports describe it as a 4 leaf clover. Not all can be wrong.
Many of the lists of wedding gifts in the papers describe the brooch as having Chrysoprase, emeralds and diamonds. The brooch (as we have seen it in modern times on Princess Michael) appears to have only emeralds and diamonds.
I recently noticed that Queen Mary was given another gift described as an emerald and diamond trefoil brooch by the Royal St George Yacht Club for her wedding in 1893.
Without an image to verify the Yacht Club gift it is impossible to state categorically that the club gave Queen Mary the brooch, but I think that is a better description than trying to argue the press got the description of the Milner gift wrong.
If the Royal St George Yacht Club (which is located in Dublin) was the donor it would explain why Queen Mary wore it frequently when in Ireland, yet it is not seen at other times.
Re: Queen Mary. Re-thinking the origins of her emerald shamrock brooch
An interesting idea Dave. It would be a very difficult process as we don't have images of all of Queen Mary's wedding gifts. Not even all her major gifts have been documented in publicly accessible records!
Re: Queen Mary. Re-thinking the origins of her emerald shamrock brooch
I thank you so much for your kind post ! Indeed, I do not think that the emerald shamrock brooch now worn by Princess Michael of Kent was a wedding gift to QM by Sir Frederick and Lady Milner.
I thank you also for your post ! I know do think that the emerald brooch worn by QM and QEII was from the Tsarvitch.
I also think that the sapphire bracelet from the tsar was inherited by QEII (photo of the bracelet taken for a book).
I can recognize bracelets which were worn by QM.
Franck
My new list :
"At each stage of the Queen Mary's life, jewellery - diamonds in particular - played a significant part in establishing her public image. For her marriage in 1893 to the Duke of York, the future George V, a very considerable quantity of jewellery, the majority of diamonds and pearls, descended on the rather shy and rather retiring Princess. Generous gifts from her immediate family and from the extended royal family vied with spectacular offerings from all round the United Kingdom and across the Empire. Among the more significant jewels, exhibited at the Imperial Institute, were three tiaras, twenty-six bracelets, forty-four brooches and fifteen necklaces. 1. Diamonds : Diamond fringe Tiara/necklace given by Queen Victoria (seen) 1 Diamond fringe Tiara/necklace given by the county of Surrey (seen) Diamond Tiara from the Ivegh (seen) a handsome diadem of roman workmanship (probably the laurel wreath diadem) - from the King and Queen of Italy
Diamond feather Aigrette from Prince George (seen)
Diamond necklace from the Prince and Princess of wales (seen) Diamond necklace from the Duke of Westminster (seen) Diamond necklace given by (In a book with the Kapurthala stomacher) Kapurthala stomacher with diamond
A diamond brooch with ten diamonds from the County of Lincolm Warwick sun brooch (seen) a spray of rose-leaves in diamonds - from a few women of the stage (Seen) The diamond spray brooch from eighty of the leading actresses of London A scent-bottle and true-lovers knot in diamonds sent by Miss Alice de Rothschild later given to the Duchess of York (Seen) A diamond spray brooch from Lord Amstrong A diamond set bow brooch - the County of Dorset (Seen) A diamond feather brooch from Empress Eugιnie (Seen) A diamond sun brooch from Earl and Countess of Warwick, Lord and Lacy Brooke, Captain Alwyne and Mrs Greville. Lady Eva and the Hon Greville; Town of Swansea crescent brooch A diamond wheat-ear and single collet brooch from the Duke of York, May's monogram set in diamonds - Mrs- Mme Weddington A diamond bow brooch from her future husband (Seen) A diamond rose brooch - West Yorkshire Regiment (Seen) A rose diamond brooch from her bride worn the day of her weeding (Seen) A rose diamond brooch mounted on a bracelet from her bride (Seen) An other round diamond brooch with the diamond necklace (Seen) A wheel-shaped diamond brooch The Earl of Fitz William / Lady Borthwick
A diamond arrow hairpin the Earl and Countess of Dudley
An ornament set in diamonds which belonged to Princess Elizabeth Landgravine of Hesse-Homburg An diamond ornament from Count Korlebrodyki (Seen) (30) An ornament given by Sir Horace Farquabar (Seen)
A diamond watch from Alice de Rothschild a diamond watch-bracelet from Lord Saville
A pair of gold and diamond bangles, late 19th century, a wedding present to Queen Mary in 1893 from the Bombay Presidency, later given to her granddaughter Elisabeth II as wedding gift in 1947 (Seen) A diamond bracelet - by the Fishmongers' Company A diamond bracelet from the Countess and the ladies of Fitzwilliam A three-diamond collet wire bangle from The Rajah and Ranee of Cuch Behar A twisted gold bangle, with diamond ball-ends from The Rajah and Ranee of Sarawak A gold bracelet with diamond centre Mr. & Mrs Arthur Kennard
shoe Buckles in diamonds The Hon. Charles Bourke
A diamond and brilliant pendant with enamel - Worshipful Company of Carpenters (Seen)
A diamond ring from the Mayor and people of Windsor
2. Pearls : A diamond and pearl tiara - the Girls of Great Britain and Ireland - later given to her granddaughter Elisabeth II
A Forget me not Diamond pearl Aigrette (seen) A pearl and diamond comb - Sir G. and Lady Lucas (seen)
A diamond necklace/tiara with pearls and matching pearls studs - Ladies of England (seen) A pearl and diamond choker from the City of London (Favourite one) A pearl and diamond necklace from Thakore Sahib and Ranee of Gondal (maybe the choker given to the Duchess of Gloucester)+ bracelet to match A five row pearl necklace given by her husband (seen) A magnificent necklace of three rows of pearls with diamond clasp was presented by 23 counties - it was valued at £6000 Sterling (40) A pearl necklace with diamond clasp from the Ladies of Glasgow consists of 51 pearls, graduated from the centre, with the largest being about the size of an ordinary pea. The length of the necklace is 14 inches. The clasp consists of eleven diamonds set in gold. The pearls were valued at 930 pounds and the total cost was close to 1000 pounds (The Scotsman, 30 June 1893) Messrs R.+W.Sorley A pearl necklace of fifty five fine pearls with lozenge-shape diamonds - diamond clasp - presented by a thousand of her Majesty's subjects A pearl necklace - County of Kent
A diamond and large baroque pearl brooch from Queen Alexandra A diamond and pearl brooch/pendant - the Ladies of Surrey Needlework Guild brooch (Seen) A brooch/pendant of diamonds and pearls valued at £775 from the women of Hampshire (Seen) A diamond set bow brooch with large pendant pearls - Inhabitants of Kensington (Seen) A pearl and diamond brooch form the Duke and Duchess of Portland (Seen) A pearl and diamond bow brooch from her husband (Seen) A diamond and pearl acorn brooch from Lady Lindsay A pearl pin from Lady Mary Arkwright A pearl brooch from the Earl of Lathom A pearl brooch from Lady Galway A brooch stutted with large black pearls from Lord and Lady Rothschild (Seen) A diamond and pearl brooch
A diamond jeweled pendant with a pearshaped large pearl - people of Richmond (seen)
A magnificent diamond and pearl bracelet from the Indian Princess A large diamond and two-pearl wire bangle bracelet from the King and Queen of Wόrtemberg A pearl and diamond bracelet from Lord and Lady Burton (seen) A pearl and diamond bracelet from the King and Queen of Wόrtemberg A watch studded with pearl and diamond from Lord and Lady Rotschild
a pearl and diamond ring, designed by Collingwood, presented by Princes Adolphus, Francis and Alexander of Teck to her sister
3. Turquoise :
A turquoise and diamond Tiara from her parent (seen) (60) A turquoise and diamond necklace (seen) Turquoise and diamond earrings (seen) 3 turquoise and diamond brooches (seen) A cluster brooch of diamonds with turquoise centre given by the Prince and Princess of Wales (seen) A Turquoise and diamond brooch from Earl Fitzwilliam turquoise and diamond cluster pin by the Marquis of Londenderry A turquoise and diamond pin from Lady Borthwick A turquoise diamond bracelet from the Marquis and Marchioness of Salisbury (seen) A turquoise and diamond bracelet from Lord and Lady Burton
4. Emeralds : A cabochon emerald and diamond knot brooch from the Tsarvitch An emerald and diamond trefoil brooch from Royal St Georges Yacht Club A gold four-leaf shamrock pin, chrysoprase emeralds and diamonds by Sir Frederick and Lady Milner (seen) an emerald brooch from Viscountess Galloway an emerald watch from Lord and Lady Hillingdou
4. Ruby :
a ruby and diamond feather brooch from the Ex-Queen of Spain Two entwined snakes with wings as brooch diamonds and rubies from Mr. Henry Chaplin diamond and ruby brooch given by Mr Chaplin (Seen)
a ruby and diamond bracelet incorporating a detachable centrepiece in the shape of a rose from the County of Cornwall (Seen)
A ruby and diamond cluster and trellis pattern bracelet from Princess Catherine of Wόrtemberg a gold chain bracelet set with rubies and diamonds from Sir Henry Hawkins (70) a gold bangle with a heart of rubies from Lady Elizabeth Taylor Watch bracelet in diamonds and rubies - Mr Gillett (Seen) diamond and ruby sleeve-links
A belle ιpoque diamond and ruby ring from her father in law ( Sold during Princess Margaret sale) (seen)
a pair of diamond and ruby sleeve links from the Hon Coppelstown and Mrs Bampfylde
5. Sapphire :
A large diamond and sapphire anchor brooch from her husband worn the day of her weeding (seen) (80) A sapphire and diamond monogram and coronet brooch from The Infante Antonio and Infante Eulalie Ruby, sapphire and diamond bangle bracelet from George, Duke of York (seen) A large cabochon sapphire and diamond curb-chain bracelet from the Emperor and Empress of Russia a sapphire and diamond bracelet from Mr and Mrs Frederick Wigan a sapphire and diamond bracelet
an emerald and sapphire brooch from the Earl Fritywilliam An emerald and sapphires ring from her three brothers. (Sold during the sale) (seen)
6. Others :
A 17th century hair comb from Baroness Yon Doup
a cross of the 17th century, a trinket very much in fashion in olden times with our fair Norman kinswomen and in a case adorned with the two Sons of William the Conqueror. It has been sent from Neufchatel-en-Bray, an old town founded by Henry I of England and has been presented by Captain Le Clerc, of the French Embassy, in whose family it has been for many years.
Rose of York Brooch with Green and rose enamel (Collection of Queen Elizabeth II) (seen) a diamond brooch with crystal centre - Earl and Countess of Leven (seen) A diamond set scarab and four stylised fleurs de lys brooch A carbuncle and diamond heart and Wings of time brooch from Mr. Wyndham A amethyst jacinth and pearl coronet brooch A cameo brooch - the four Georges set in diamonds, surmonted by a diamond-set crown, 1820 - from Earl and Countess Cadogan (seen) A cameo from Lady and Lord Dorchester four valuable pins - Mr A.J. Balfour (90) Four moonstone hat pins A brooch the gift from the Workshipful Company of Carpenters
amethyst and topaz bracelet - Lord & Lady Burton Bracelet of diamond and pierres from the People of Richmond A half-hoop bracelet from the County of Sussex A gold curb-chain bracelet, with jubilee Institute Medal from Sir Somers Vine and the Staff of the Imperial Institue
a little gold watch and chain inclosed in a small glass case formerly in the possession of the Empress Josephine from Dr Chittenden. a small birthday book bound in gold and tortoiseshell, containing a miniature in ivory of the royal family and bearing a coronet and short inscription in diamonds and enamel - from the Baron and Baroness Lowenstein. bird in gold and enamel box - Sir Henry and Lady Meysey-Thomson lace parasol with carved pin coral handle - from the Italian ambassador and Lady Tornielli
Previous Message
It has been generally held that the emerald shamrock brooch worn by Queen Mary (now worn by Princess Michael of Kent) was a wedding gift to HM by Sir Frederick and Lady Milner.
Seen here in a photo originally posted by J-F
I have never felt that this brooch which has 3 leaves matched the description of a brooch of a 4 leaf clover. All the newspaper reports describe it as a 4 leaf clover. Not all can be wrong.
Many of the lists of wedding gifts in the papers describe the brooch as having Chrysoprase, emeralds and diamonds. The brooch (as we have seen it in modern times on Princess Michael) appears to have only emeralds and diamonds.
I recently noticed that Queen Mary was given another gift described as an emerald and diamond trefoil brooch by the Royal St George Yacht Club for her wedding in 1893.
Without an image to verify the Yacht Club gift it is impossible to state categorically that the club gave Queen Mary the brooch, but I think that is a better description than trying to argue the press got the description of the Milner gift wrong.
If the Royal St George Yacht Club (which is located in Dublin) was the donor it would explain why Queen Mary wore it frequently when in Ireland, yet it is not seen at other times.
Re: Queen Mary. Re-thinking the origins of her emerald shamrock brooch
Thank you for such a comprehensive list Franck. It will help us all immensely as we try to identify various jewels and their origin.
I cannot help wondering how many of the jewels survived (and were perhaps worn in private) and how many were dismantled with the stones being used for new jewels.
Re: Queen Mary. Re-thinking the origins of her emerald shamrock brooch
I would like to know where is the diamond collet neckkace given as a wedding gift by the Prince and the Princess of Wales. I think it is very strange as QEII now wears the turquoise tiara.
I would like also to know if the tiara given by the King of Italy is the laurel wreath tiara worn by QM and Princess Mary, the Princess Royal...one of the last mystery for me.
Previous Message
Thank you for such a comprehensive list Franck. It will help us all immensely as we try to identify various jewels and their origin.
I cannot help wondering how many of the jewels survived (and were perhaps worn in private) and how many were dismantled with the stones being used for new jewels.
Re: Queen Mary. Re-thinking the origins of her emerald shamrock brooch
I have often wondered if the emeralds were changed after Queen Mary's death. Or it is an optical illusion that there were larger emeralds in the brooch initially? What do others think?
I also think that the emeralds have been changed..the emeralds were like hearts..the emeralds were larger it is not an optical illusion.
Franck
Previous Message
I have often wondered if the emeralds were changed after Queen Mary's death. Or it is an optical illusion that there were larger emeralds in the brooch initially? What do others think?
First I'd like to thank you, Beth for this wonderful board. It's truly a fiest to follow the discussions who provide so much knowledge about the wonderful topic of jewellery .
Beth, your explanations about the true provenance of the shamrock brooch is highly sensible IMHO. The shamrock symbolizes in Ireland the Holy Trinity (Father, Son and Holy Spirit) and is truly THE Irish symbol.
The Milners were English aristocrats. So why should they present Princess May an Irish symbol? On the other hand, the four-leafed clover is a symbol of luck in England (and elsewhere), so it'll makes much more sense, that the Ireland based St George Yacht Club presents the Irish shamrock and the English aristocrats the luck-promising four-leafed clover-brooch.
It really can't be, that all the reports were wrong.
Previous Message
It has been generally held that the emerald shamrock brooch worn by Queen Mary (now worn by Princess Michael of Kent) was a wedding gift to HM by Sir Frederick and Lady Milner.
Seen here in a photo originally posted by J-F
I have never felt that this brooch which has 3 leaves matched the description of a brooch of a 4 leaf clover. All the newspaper reports describe it as a 4 leaf clover. Not all can be wrong.
Many of the lists of wedding gifts in the papers describe the brooch as having Chrysoprase, emeralds and diamonds. The brooch (as we have seen it in modern times on Princess Michael) appears to have only emeralds and diamonds.
I recently noticed that Queen Mary was given another gift described as an emerald and diamond trefoil brooch by the Royal St George Yacht Club for her wedding in 1893.
Without an image to verify the Yacht Club gift it is impossible to state categorically that the club gave Queen Mary the brooch, but I think that is a better description than trying to argue the press got the description of the Milner gift wrong.
If the Royal St George Yacht Club (which is located in Dublin) was the donor it would explain why Queen Mary wore it frequently when in Ireland, yet it is not seen at other times.
What an intriguing point of view! In my opinion it adds considerably to the "proof" that the emerald shamrock brooch was the gift of the Royal St George Yacht Club.
The psychology behind gift giving is a fascinating area which is rarely considered in jewellery history; yet, understanding it can provide significant clues.
Again, welcome! I am looking forward to reading more interesting posts by you when ever you have time to write.