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.

QEII and QEQM's five petal brooch Posted by Beth on August 14, 2019, 7:32 am In the 1930s Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother was photographed wearing a distinctive five petal flower brooch. Worn in photos released just after she became Queen in 1936. I don't think that anyone has ever identified what stones/gemstones are in the brooch. I used to think that the petals were made from mother of pearl, but others disagree. The brooch is rarely spotted in photos of QEQM, however, I think it can be seen in this 1934 photo below. According to Leslie Field Queen Elizabeth II borrowed the brooch from her mother on a number of occasions. (I suspect that QEQM probably gave it as a gift in the early years of WWII). The earliest photo I have found of QEII wearing the brooch was published in March 1942. QEII was again photographed with it in May 1943. If the large petals of the brooch aren't mother of pearl, what gemstone might have been used? (I still think that a thick pearl shell is a possibility). And what is in the centre?

Re: QEII and QEQM's five petal brooch Posted by Maridje on August 14, 2019, 4:22 pm, in reply to "QEII and QEQM's five petal brooch" other side, brooch in curved perhaps in white coral. Maridje

Re: QEII and QEQM's five petal brooch Posted by Beth on August 15, 2019, 7:04 am, in reply to "Re: QEII and QEQM's five petal brooch" Superb photos, thank you Maridje! They are the best I have ever seen. I had never even thought of white coral. I wonder if the round stones in the middle might be small pearls? Unless we see a modern photo of this brooch I suspect we will never know for certain.

Re: QEII and QEQM's five petal brooch Posted by OmerH on August 15, 2019, 10:29 pm, in reply to "Re: QEII and QEQM's five petal brooch" This brooch looks very much like Suzanne Belperron "Fleur" collection. All her flowers were five petaled and they usually had cabochon stones in the center very much like this brooch. The Prince of Wales was a customer in the 1930s so its not totally unlikely that the Duke of York might have bought something for his wife from the same jewellery house. Wallis Simpson had the following suite of jewels made for her in 1935: Belperron still sells these brooches and their collection is appropriately called "Windsor"

Re: QEII and QEQM's five petal brooch Posted by Thomas on August 16, 2019, 12:16 pm, in reply to "Re: QEII and QEQM's five petal brooch" Such an interesting theory OmerH! The flower looks remarkably similar to the work of Belperron. White coral could have been used, but I’d rather think it is made of rock crystal or chalcedony, like the examples shown in your post. I’m quite surprised that this brooch hasn’t been seen recently, especially given the huge interest in the work of Susanne Belperron. I don’t have Olivier Baroin’s reference book on the subject, but I guess a Royal connection (other than the Windsor’s) would be mentioned.

Re: QEII and QEQM's five petal brooch Posted by Beth on August 16, 2019, 1:38 pm, in reply to "Re: QEII and QEQM's five petal brooch" Congratulations OmerH! I think you have solved the mystery. I am going to vote for white chalcedony. That would provide the translucent appearance. To my eye the petals do not seem transparent, which I would expect if rock crystal was used.

« Back to index