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Princess Alice Countess of Athlone. Snake bracelet
Posted by Beth on August 10, 2019, 8:08 am
Does anyone know anything about the snake bracelet worn by Princess Alice, Countess of Athlone?
1950
1954
Re: Princess Alice Countess of Athlone. Snake bracelet
"When Princess Helene of Waldeck-Pyrmont married Prince Leopold, Duke of Albany, she received a five-stone half-hoop diamond ring and a diamond serpent bracelet from the citizens of Windsor and vicinity.
In The Illustrated London News, the bracelet was described as: “a double coil serpent bracelet …the front being gemmed with 320 brilliants, weighing 24½ carats, 60 roses (small diamonds) and the head adorned by a large sapphire valued at £600 with two rubies for the eyes. The imitation scales on the back of the bracelet are of blue enamel and gold, the inside being lined with gold and engraved with the inscription, "From Windsor, April 27th, 1882””
The Queen, The Lady’s Newspaper described the jewel as being “…in the shape of a three-coil serpent, with ruby eyes and a large sapphire in its head, the body being formed by 320 brilliants, weighing 24½ carats and sixty roses. The ring is a five-stone half-hoop, the stones being slightly graduated in size and of very fine quality.”
Maridje
Re: Princess Alice Countess of Athlone. Snake bracelet
3In The Illustrated London News, the bracelet was described as:
“a DOUBLE coil serpent bracelet …
the front being gemmed with 320 brilliants, weighing 24½ carats, 60 roses (small diamonds) and the head adorned by a large sapphire valued at £600 with two rubies for the eyes. The imitation scales on the back of the bracelet are of blue enamel and gold, the inside being lined with gold and engraved with the inscription, "From Windsor, April 27th, 1882””
3The Queen, The Lady’s Newspaper described the jewel as being
“…in the shape of a THREE -coil serpent,
with ruby eyes and a large sapphire in its head, the body being formed by 320 brilliants, weighing 24½ carats and sixty roses. The ring is a five-stone half-hoop, the stones being slightly graduated in size and of very fine quality.”
I dont think the bracelets are the same because Princess Alice's bracelet doesnt have the third coil that the Duchess of Albany's has.
Maridje
Re: Princess Alice Countess of Athlone. Snake bracelet
Initially, I agreed with OmerH -- that the two bracelets were not the same.
Now I wonder if the bracelet given by the inhabitants of Windsor to the Duchess of Albany in 1882 was altered by Princess Alice?
Part of my reasoning is that the head of the snake and its distinctive position looks the same in the photos of the Duchess of Albany and in the photos of Princess Alice. Unfortunately, none of the photos is of sufficient quality to allow me to say this definitely, but I suspect that the head is the same.
What I think has probably happened is that, to make an all diamond bracelet, the front diamond set sections have been joined, so that the bracelet has been shortened considerably.
I hope that some of the newspaper cuttings below and photos will help to explain my thinking.
The description from the London Illustrated News cited by Laura in the article published by Ursula would suggest that the entire bracelet was diamond set.
Illustrated London News.
As would the drawing of the gift.
But then Laura mentioned that "...the imitation scales on the back of the bracelet are of blue enamel and gold..."
Several newspapers mentioned this, as did the Graphic
Perhaps the clearest description is the one below.
which makes it clear that only the front of the bracelet was diamond set; the back was enamel and gold.
Photographs of the Duchess in her wedding gown also suggest that the rear of the bracelet was enamel work.
Initially, I thought that the darker colour towards the back of the bracelet was a shadow,
but when I compared the bracelet in a second photo, I realised that the bracelet had been re-positioned slightly so that the diamond section was in front; yet the darker section is still obvious.
In photos I have found of Princess Alice, it is clear when photos from different angles are examined, that the bracelet worn by Princess Alice is an all diamond bracelet.
another photo from the same sitting.
I strongly suspect that the enamelled section from the original bracelet was removed and the diamond sections joined to form one all diamond bracelet.
It was a very handsome gift from the inhabitants of Windsor (and surrounds), the money for the bracelet and ring being raised by subscription. The final cost was, according to most reports, being about 500 pounds. According to the one below the sapphire alone cost 70 pounds.
Perhaps my thinking is incorrect and Princess Alice did have another snake bracelet, but the distinctive snake head and its position makes me think that perhaps she altered her mother's bracelet. I looked at umpteen news reports from 1882 of this bracelet and none of them suggested that the bracelet was originally meant to be adjustable so, if Princess Alice did change it, the original setting would have been dismantled.
What do others think?
Re: Princess Alice Countess of Athlone. Snake bracelet. A possible explanation
I strongly suspect that the enamelled section from the original bracelet was removed and the diamond sections joined to form one all diamond bracelet. [snip] What do others think?
I think that's an accurate observation and – as usual! – a very well researched and absolutely convincing theory.
Re: Princess Alice Countess of Athlone. Snake bracelet. A possible explanation
on August 10, 2019, 8:08 am
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