Posters of original research, analyses, insights etc retain all rights to their work. Such research etc cannot be used in any format without the written consent of the author.

Edinburgh ruby parure Posted by kat max on April 20, 2019, 3:55 pm When Grand Duchess Marie Alexandrovna married the Duke of Edinburgh her father the Emperor Alexander II gave her a magnificent diamond and Burmese ruby parure made by Bolin. I finally got around to doing some scanning of old photos today. One image I found a while ago was a large size photo of Marie on the front of the Illustrated London News in 1899 and shows here with the necklace in the set and what seems like a now lost large brooch. Given she is wearing the same dress and jewels I suspect the 1899 photo may have been taken in 1896. She also wore this set at the 1896 coronation so it must have been a favourite of hers. Marie is in the middle of this photo group. there is more on the history of the tiara here, though I can't seem to find any actual images of Marie wearing this piece as she seems to have preferred the fringe tiara. http://royalwatcherblog.com/2016/09/08/bolin-ruby-tiara/

Re: Edinburgh ruby parure Posted by Beth on April 20, 2019, 6:13 pm, in reply to "Edinburgh ruby parure" There is wonderful detail in the photo from the Illustrated London News Thank you Kat Max! I had never previously noticed the ruby stars on the Grand Duchess' dress. Or the gems on the fan! That is a jewel worthy of further exploration. Seeing the Faberge fan in Kat Max's first post plus the fan held by the Grand Duchess made me realise that we really should have some threads on gemset fans at some stage. I know nothing about them and would love to know more.

Re: Edinburgh ruby parure Posted by kat max on April 20, 2019, 6:18 pm, in reply to "Re: Edinburgh ruby parure" Previous Message Seeing the Faberge fan in Kat Max's first post plus the fan held by the Grand Duchess made me realise that we really should have some threads on gemset fans at some stage. I know nothing about them and would love to know more. I am actually researching gem-set fans at the moment for publication among fan collectors. Most royal ladies had at least one of these fans if not more. They come up for sale occasionally even now but they are usually overlooked completely by jewellery collectors and digging up history on them is not easy.

Re: Edinburgh ruby parure Posted by Beth on April 20, 2019, 6:29 pm, in reply to "Re: Edinburgh ruby parure" If you feel able to share any information Kat Max I am sure many would be interested. If not, then we can all wait until after you have published. And perhaps from time to time if anyone finds information they could share it with you. Unfortunately, it is not the type of thing which most news reports commented on. But I will keep an eye open. By the way - in the back of my mind I have a recollection of one news report which mentioned the ruby stars worn by the Grand Duchess. I think they were scattered on her bodice. I'll have to see if I can find the report.

Re: Edinburgh ruby parure Posted by kat max on April 20, 2019, 6:33 pm, in reply to "Re: Edinburgh ruby parure" Previous Message If you feel able to share any information Kat Max I am sure many would be interested. If not, then we can all wait until after you have published. And perhaps from time to time if anyone finds information they could share it with you. Unfortunately, it is not the type of thing which most news reports commented on. But I will keep an eye open. Its still a work in progress at the moment. Accumulating information.

Re: Edinburgh ruby parure Posted by Beth on April 20, 2019, 6:39 pm, in reply to "Re: Edinburgh ruby parure" Thanks. I will be waiting with anticipation for when ever your research is published.

Re: Edinburgh ruby parure - jewelled fan Posted by kat max on April 20, 2019, 6:50 pm, in reply to "Re: Edinburgh ruby parure" Previous Message Thanks. I will be waiting with anticipation for when ever your research is published. If you look at this photo you can see Marie is holding a different jewelled fan from the one in the newspaper photo. It would be lovely to be able to track it down. These sorts of photos become valuable for doing this sort of research. Look at this, its a fan coming up for sale soon. An aristocratic Russian marriage fan. This is a rare and beautiful piece. https://bid.tennants.co.uk/m/lot-details/index/catalog/732/lot/483581/Preview-lot-A-Russian-Marriage-fan-Circa-1851?url=%2Fm%2Fsearch%2F%3Fkey%3Dfan%26search-area%3Don%26xclosed%3Dno

Re: Edinburgh ruby parure - jewelled fan Posted by Beth on April 20, 2019, 7:08 pm, in reply to "Re: Edinburgh ruby parure - jewelled fan" Re the fan. What an interesting link. Thank you so much Kat Max. The history of this has me intrigued. So much research must have gone into it. I wonder how many jewel encrusted fans the Grand Duchess had? I had forgotten about this image of the Grand Duchess wearing this pearl tiara. It gives some idea of how she would have worn (and looked like) wearing the ruby tiara. The only image I have seen of the ruby tiara being worn was by one of her descendants. I posted the photo sometime ago on the RJWMB. (I'll try to post the photo tomorrow. I apologise to all but Photobucket is being painful again today and, after waiting so long for it to respond each time tonight, I am giving in and closing it down)

Re: Edinburgh ruby parure - jewelled fan Posted by Dave on April 21, 2019, 12:06 am, in reply to "Re: Edinburgh ruby parure - jewelled fan" Is this tiara the sister to the great Vladimir tiara or is it one in the same? Are any of the pearl brooch pendants the one now with QE11 as they resemble one I've seen HM wearing? Please see the picture below as this is what I have in mind. http://queensjewelvault.blogspot.com/2012/07/the-cambridge-pearl-pendant.html Regards, Dave. Previous Message Previous Message Thanks. I will be waiting with anticipation for when ever your research is published. If you look at this photo you can see Marie is holding a different jewelled fan from the one in the newspaper photo. It would be lovely to be able to track it down. These sorts of photos become valuable for doing this sort of research. Look at this, its a fan coming up for sale soon. An aristocratic Russian marriage fan. This is a rare and beautiful piece. https://bid.tennants.co.uk/m/lot-details/index/catalog/732/lot/483581/Preview-lot-A-Russian-Marriage-fan-Circa-1851?url=%2Fm%2Fsearch%2F%3Fkey%3Dfan%26search-area%3Don%26xclosed%3Dno

Re: Edinburgh ruby parure Posted by OmerH on April 20, 2019, 7:06 pm, in reply to "Re: Edinburgh ruby parure" Welcome Kat Max and many thanks for the pic of Duchess of Edinburgh. Like Beth I had never noticed the diamond stars down the front of her dress and I suspect those are large diamond solitaires in between the stars. The stars worn by the Duchess to her nephew's coronation were part of another tiara.

Re: Edinburgh ruby parure Posted by Beth on April 20, 2019, 7:14 pm, in reply to "Re: Edinburgh ruby parure" I think you are correct about the solitaires OmerH. When I went hunting for the reference to the ruby stars tonight, I found one about diamonds. I was mistaken about the stars it would appear. Hopefully tomorrow Photobucket will be working better for me so that I will be able to post the cutting. Previous Message Welcome Kat Max and many thanks for the pic of Duchess of Edinburgh. Like Beth I had never noticed the diamond stars down the front of her dress and I suspect those are large diamond solitaires in between the stars. The stars worn by the Duchess to her nephew's coronation were part of another tiara.

Re: Edinburgh ruby parure - russian dress Posted by kat max on April 20, 2019, 7:32 pm, in reply to "Re: Edinburgh ruby parure" Previous Message The stars worn by the Duchess to her nephew's coronation were part of another tiara. There is usually a strip of velvet cloth running down the middle of the Russian court dress where you could pin diamond jewels or sew elaborate buttons depending on your rank or wealth. You can see Empress Marie Feodrovna has a series of diamond pins down the front of the dress she wore to the 1896 coronation. Baroness de Stoeckl on the other hand has opted for what looks like enamel buttons when wearning court dress This is a detail of a lady in waiting dress. Dress was regulated at the russian court. Details varied but the overall style is very recognisable.

Re: Edinburgh ruby parure Posted by Dave on April 20, 2019, 11:58 pm, in reply to "Edinburgh ruby parure" Just wonderful research Kat max and I have seen this picture before but never noticed the Stars. Who is the lady to Duchess Edinburgh's left and can anyone say anything about her jewels especially her tiara? Regards, Dave. Previous Message When Grand Duchess Marie Alexandrovna married the Duke of Edinburgh her father the Emperor Alexander II gave her a magnificent diamond and Burmese ruby parure made by Bolin. I finally got around to doing some scanning of old photos today. One image I found a while ago was a large size photo of Marie on the front of the Illustrated London News in 1899 and shows here with the necklace in the set and what seems like a now lost large brooch. Given she is wearing the same dress and jewels I suspect the 1899 photo may have been taken in 1896. She also wore this set at the 1896 coronation so it must have been a favourite of hers. Marie is in the middle of this photo group. there is more on the history of the tiara here, though I can't seem to find any actual images of Marie wearing this piece as she seems to have preferred the fringe tiara. http://royalwatcherblog.com/2016/09/08/bolin-ruby-tiara/

Re: Edinburgh ruby parure Posted by kat max on April 21, 2019, 12:32 am, in reply to "Re: Edinburgh ruby parure" Previous Message Just wonderful research Kat max and I have seen this picture before but never noticed the Stars. Who is the lady to Duchess Edinburgh's left and can anyone say anything about her jewels especially her tiara? Regards, Dave. I assume you are referring to the 1896 coronation photo. Marie, Duchess of Edinburgh is in the middle. Her daughters are on either side of her. On the left is Marie, later Queen of Roumania on her right is Victoria Melita, later Grand Duchess Victoria Feodorovna of Russia. At the time this photo was taken she was married to Ernest Louis, Grand Duke of Hesse and by Rhine so she is wearing jewels from the House of Hesse. The Hesse jewels were stolen in 1945 by American army officers much to the embarrassment of the American army many of them were taken apart and destroyed to fence them as loose diamonds and gold.

Re: Edinburgh ruby parure Posted by Vibcent on April 21, 2019, 4:38 am, in reply to "Edinburgh ruby parure" What happened to that tiara is such a disaster ! It was sold before antique jewelry became fashionable and exhibited in museums. First the rubies were removed to be replaced by the much less beautiful cabochons rubies. And then it was broken up. Sad ! The rubies on the corsage ornament were used to make earrings, a smaller brooch, a ring and a bracelet which were quite nice actually. Wonder if they still exist.

Re: Edinburgh ruby parure Posted by kat max on April 21, 2019, 7:17 am, in reply to "Re: Edinburgh ruby parure" What a sad end to these pieces Vincent. It it explains why I can't find any photos of them though. A pity there doesn't seem to be one of Marie Alexandrovna wearing the whole set floating around on the internet either.

Re: Edinburgh ruby parure Posted by Beth on April 22, 2019, 8:36 am, in reply to "Re: Edinburgh ruby parure" Link to the Christie's 2006 auction catalogue showing the individual items Vincent mentioned. https://www.christies.com/lotfinder/Lot/an-important-suite-of-ruby-and-diamond-4734739-details.aspx Previous Message What happened to that tiara is such a disaster ! It was sold before antique jewelry became fashionable and exhibited in museums. First the rubies were removed to be replaced by the much less beautiful cabochons rubies. And then it was broken up. Sad ! The rubies on the corsage ornament were used to make earrings, a smaller brooch, a ring and a bracelet which were quite nice actually. Wonder if they still exist.

Re: Edinburgh ruby parure Posted by OmerH on April 22, 2019, 10:36 am, in reply to "Re: Edinburgh ruby parure" Interesting to see Christies dates it 1850. I was always under the impression it was comissioned for the Grand Duchesses' wedding in 1874.

Re: Edinburgh ruby parure Posted by Beth on April 22, 2019, 7:05 pm, in reply to "Re: Edinburgh ruby parure" I confess that I didn't notice that date, so many thanks for pointing it out OmerH. I did a quick search on the UK newspapers today but there was nothing much about the wedding presents to the Grand Duchess -- just two UK items. The photos we have seen over the past couple of days show that the Duchess of Edinburgh had 2 ruby tiaras. For a Drawing Room in March 1874, not long after she arrived in the UK, the new Duchess of Edinburgh wore rubies. As the press called her tiara a ruby coronet, I suspect she wore the one which ended up being dismantled. Does anyone know the details of when the tiara was made? And, if it was made circa 1850, for whom was it originally made? Sadly, I don't have Vincent Meylan's book on the Queens Jewels which might hold the answer. Previous Message Interesting to see Christies dates it 1850. I was always under the impression it was comissioned for the Grand Duchesses' wedding in 1874.

Re: Edinburgh ruby parure (Versitile?) Posted by The Royal Watcher on April 23, 2019, 6:05 pm, in reply to "Edinburgh ruby parure" At some Greek Royal Events, I've seen Princess Margarita wearing a similar coronet-style tiara, with what seems like three-pronged leaf elements on top of a diamond base (not dissimilar to some Spanish Ducal Coronets)! I wonder if this is a different version of the Edinburgh Ruby Parure, or a different piece altogether! Maybe it burned down in the 1963 fire?

Re: Edinburgh ruby parure (Versitile?) Posted by Beth on April 23, 2019, 7:32 pm, in reply to "Re: Edinburgh ruby parure (Versitile?)" An interesting observation The Royal Watcher! I suspect that this is another jewel, but I really don't know sufficient to give a more definite opinion. I hope some of our European specialists will know more.

Re: Edinburgh ruby parure (Versitile?) Posted by Maria Olivia on April 23, 2019, 8:04 pm, in reply to "Re: Edinburgh ruby parure (Versitile?)" At Sofia and Juan Carlos Pre Wedding , the Princess wore some elements at her necklace.Why not the ruby necklace ? I started a thread of the Event . ( before them were Princesses Olga and Marina, most of their jewels were sold when they passed away) . Previous Message At some Greek Royal Events, I've seen Princess Margarita wearing a similar coronet-style tiara, with what seems like three-pronged leaf elements on top of a diamond base (not dissimilar to some Spanish Ducal Coronets)! I wonder if this is a different version of the Edinburgh Ruby Parure, or a different piece altogether! Maybe it burned down in the 1963 fire?

Re: Edinburgh ruby parure (Versitile?) Posted by Stefan on April 24, 2019, 2:43 am, in reply to "Re: Edinburgh ruby parure (Versitile?)" Could that be the tiara (or a changed version of it) which was worn by Saskai Bibnder wehn seh married Margarit'a grandson the pre4sent Fürst Philipp zu Hohenlohe-Langeburg in 2003 https://seegerpress.wg.picturemaxx.com/thumb.php/00103987.jpg?eJwljL0OwjAMhN_l5g6uU5rYG-oCEgWJIgETippkYgI6Id4dEwb70_3o3hjW0BLvz9xg2EAB4wXaGq4Vuy3UGfYWprzc7KwzmiJqyUnwP3mq3QnK9gdoZxj_nkWvx2L756kaR6gnanAwiTnGIhyIOXbci0hOXngOZeX6SCnh8wVUwCc4 https://seegerpress.wg.picturemaxx.com/thumb.php/00103786.jpg?eJwljLsOwjAMRf_lzh1cp-ThDWUBiYJEkYAJRU0yMQGdEP-OCYN9dB-6b8Q1pKb7s3SIGwigvEB6xbVht4UYxV7DXJabnnZGVUQ9GeftT55ad4Kw_ggZFOPf0-j1WHT_PDXjCHFEHQ4qMadUA3tiTgPbEELJLvDs68rYRDnj8wVTnyc1 Previous Message At some Greek Royal Events, I've seen Princess Margarita wearing a similar coronet-style tiara, with what seems like three-pronged leaf elements on top of a diamond base (not dissimilar to some Spanish Ducal Coronets)! I wonder if this is a different version of the Edinburgh Ruby Parure, or a different piece altogether! Maybe it burned down in the 1963 fire?

Re: Edinburgh ruby parure (Versitile?) Posted by Beth on April 24, 2019, 6:17 am, in reply to "Re: Edinburgh ruby parure (Versitile?)" Is this the tiara The Royal Watcher initially asked about?

Re: Edinburgh ruby parure (Versitile?) Posted by Beth on April 24, 2019, 3:34 pm, in reply to "Re: Edinburgh ruby parure (Versitile?)" I think that all the tiaras we have looked at are different. Here is a slightly sharper image

« Back to index