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Russian tiara that left Russia and then returned Posted by Janet on September 2, 2019, 12:43 am One of my all time favourite tiaras is the Russian diadem below. https://www.instagram.com/p/Bno4Qk1hNlD/ I recently joined an Instagram page titled Russian Treasure https://www.instagram.com/russian_treasure/ It included a post on this very tiara and it states the following: "A masterpiece of famous Russian court jeweler J. Duval, tiara with diamond pendeloques and large heart-shaped gem in the center, has long been in the possession of the Württemberg Royal Family. Originally commissioned by the Dowager Empress Maria Feodorovna in 1803, the tiara was evidently lent to her daughter-in-law, Empress Elizabeth Alekseevna, as this tiara is depicted in the portrait of 1828 and on one of the miniatures in the hairstyle of the consort of Alexander I. A few years after the death of Maria Feodorovna the jewel could become part of the dowry of one of the Grand Duchesses, since the inventories of the different years do not mention the presence of the tiara with pendeloques in the collection of Russian Crown Jewels. In the official portraits of Empress Alexandra Feodorovna of 1911 again found a recognizable tiara, which three years before the publication of pictures, was bought from the Duchess Vera Konstantinovna of Württemberg, great granddaughter of Maria Feodorovna. Traces of the tiara with pendeloques lost after drawing up of the Soviet catalogue of the Russian Crown Jewels of 1922." Adding 2 and 2 two together, I can only assume that the tiara formed part of the dowry of Olga Nikolaevna of Russia, daughter of Tsar Nicholas I of Russia and granddaughter of Tsarina Maria Feodrovna of Russia. She became Queen of Württemberg, however was childless. However she did "adopt" her niece, Grand Duchess Vera, who married a member of the Wurttenberg royal house and who it appears owned the tiara before it was sold back to the Russian Treasury in around 1908/09. Vera's motivation for selling it is unclear as she was considered to be fabulously wealthy, being the heiress of her "adopted" parents Charles I and Olga of Württemberg. I discounted that it could have come from Catherine Pavlovna of Russia, Tsarina Maria Feodrovna of Russia's daughter and who was briefly Queen of Württemberg as she produced two daughters, one of who became Queen of the Netherlands, who likely would have inherited her jewels rather than being kept by the Württemberg treasury. I havent been able to find any evidence of either Queen Olga or Grand Duchess Vera wearing it though, in all of the pictures where she is wearing a tiara, most likely for events associated with 1896 Coronation, she is wearing an impressive Kokoshink fringe tiara, along with a sizeable brooch and some chunky emeralds. http://www.gogmsite.net/_Media/1896-coronation-ball-celebr-2.jpeg

Re: Russian tiara that left Russia and then returned Posted by Beth on September 2, 2019, 7:38 am, in reply to "Russian tiara that left Russia and then returned" Welcome to the board Janet! What an interesting subject! I had no idea that the tiara had not been part of the Russian Treasury continuously, so of course the Wurttemberg connection is new to me. What a great way to start my day, thank you.

Vera's mother Grand Duchess Alexandra Iosifovna of Russia Posted by Janet on September 2, 2019, 8:38 am, in reply to "Re: Russian tiara that left Russia and then returned" Firstly Beth thank you, I have been a lurker for many months and pleased to have the opportunity to join in the discussion. Vera's mother Grand Duchess Alexandra Iosifovna of Russia had an incredible collection of jewels, especially emeralds, as well as sapphires (see a link to her enormous sapphire brooch below) and pearls. It is assumed that the Greek emerald and rubies parures came via Russia, presumably from Grand Duchess Alexandra Iosifovna of Russia, however I cannot find a picture of her wearing anything which can be automatically identified with either the Greek emerald or ruby parures. While there are pictures of Grand Duchess Alexandra Iosifovna wearing emeralds such as at the 1896 Coronation, they appear to be of a wholly different shape. Interestingly, it seems after the Grand Duchess's death in 1911, some of her best known pieces ended up back in the Russian Treasury and were displayed by the Soviets after the Revolution, apparently willed back by the Grand Duchess, which I find to be quite an admirable act, especially as she had a number of children of her own, including Vera and Queen Olga of Greece. I wonder if that is all it seems and whether actually some financial deal was cut? https://www.instagram.com/p/Bip10EKBl88/ - her sapphire brooch https://www.instagram.com/p/BgRtI6zHd8K/ - her sapphire brooch https://www.instagram.com/p/Bg0-RalnLvF/ - her pearl earrings https://www.instagram.com/p/BqZp6wCniRv/ - her pearl necklace I believe both the sapphire brooch and the pearl necklace linked to above are worn in the 1896 Coronation picture, Alexandra is wearing the Sapphire brooch around her mid-section I believe, while her granddaughter Olga, seated, Vera's daughter, appears to be wearing her grandmother's pearl necklace. Hopefully this is a clearer shot of the 1896 Coronation grouping.

Alexandra's emerald brooch is still in the Diamond Fund in Moscow Posted by Janet on September 2, 2019, 8:53 am, in reply to "Vera's mother Grand Duchess Alexandra Iosifovna of Russia" and weighs a staggering 136.25 carats! I think she is wearing this as the centrepiece of her emerald necklace in the 1896 Coronation scene, above her bosom and then her sapphire brooch beneath it. http://www.gokhran.ru/en/diamond-fund/collections/historical-gems/index.phtml Previous Message Firstly Beth thank you, I have been a lurker for many months and pleased to have the opportunity to join in the discussion. Vera's mother Grand Duchess Alexandra Iosifovna of Russia had an incredible collection of jewels, especially emeralds, as well as sapphires (see a link to her enormous sapphire brooch below) and pearls. It is assumed that the Greek emerald and rubies parures came via Russia, presumably from Grand Duchess Alexandra Iosifovna of Russia, however I cannot find a picture of her wearing anything which can be automatically identified with either the Greek emerald or ruby parures. While there are pictures of Grand Duchess Alexandra Iosifovna wearing emeralds such as at the 1896 Coronation, they appear to be of a wholly different shape. Interestingly, it seems after the Grand Duchess's death in 1911, some of her best known pieces ended up back in the Russian Treasury and were displayed by the Soviets after the Revolution, apparently willed back by the Grand Duchess, which I find to be quite an admirable act, especially as she had a number of children of her own, including Vera and Queen Olga of Greece. I wonder if that is all it seems and whether actually some financial deal was cut? https://www.instagram.com/p/Bip10EKBl88/ - her sapphire brooch https://www.instagram.com/p/BgRtI6zHd8K/ - her sapphire brooch https://www.instagram.com/p/Bg0-RalnLvF/ - her pearl earrings https://www.instagram.com/p/BqZp6wCniRv/ - her pearl necklace I believe both the sapphire brooch and the pearl necklace linked to above are worn in the 1896 Coronation picture, Alexandra is wearing the Sapphire brooch around her mid-section I believe, while her granddaughter Olga, seated, Vera's daughter, appears to be wearing her grandmother's pearl necklace. Hopefully this is a clearer shot of the 1896 Coronation grouping.

Re: Vera's mother Grand Duchess Alexandra Iosifovna of Russia Posted by Dave on September 2, 2019, 12:04 pm, in reply to "Vera's mother Grand Duchess Alexandra Iosifovna of Russia" The Sapphire brooch with its pearls reminds me of the one worn by the late PD or at least the style does. Regards, Dave. Previous Message Firstly Beth thank you, I have been a lurker for many months and pleased to have the opportunity to join in the discussion. Vera's mother Grand Duchess Alexandra Iosifovna of Russia had an incredible collection of jewels, especially emeralds, as well as sapphires (see a link to her enormous sapphire brooch below) and pearls. It is assumed that the Greek emerald and rubies parures came via Russia, presumably from Grand Duchess Alexandra Iosifovna of Russia, however I cannot find a picture of her wearing anything which can be automatically identified with either the Greek emerald or ruby parures. While there are pictures of Grand Duchess Alexandra Iosifovna wearing emeralds such as at the 1896 Coronation, they appear to be of a wholly different shape. Interestingly, it seems after the Grand Duchess's death in 1911, some of her best known pieces ended up back in the Russian Treasury and were displayed by the Soviets after the Revolution, apparently willed back by the Grand Duchess, which I find to be quite an admirable act, especially as she had a number of children of her own, including Vera and Queen Olga of Greece. I wonder if that is all it seems and whether actually some financial deal was cut? https://www.instagram.com/p/Bip10EKBl88/ - her sapphire brooch https://www.instagram.com/p/BgRtI6zHd8K/ - her sapphire brooch https://www.instagram.com/p/Bg0-RalnLvF/ - her pearl earrings https://www.instagram.com/p/BqZp6wCniRv/ - her pearl necklace I believe both the sapphire brooch and the pearl necklace linked to above are worn in the 1896 Coronation picture, Alexandra is wearing the Sapphire brooch around her mid-section I believe, while her granddaughter Olga, seated, Vera's daughter, appears to be wearing her grandmother's pearl necklace. Hopefully this is a clearer shot of the 1896 Coronation grouping.

Re: Russian tiara that left Russia and then returned Posted by Dave on September 2, 2019, 12:02 pm, in reply to "Russian tiara that left Russia and then returned" Welcome to this space Janet. You are actually touching on a tiara of which I also said was my most favourite tiara or jewel piece when asked the entry level questions to join the RJOTWMB at the time. I am glad someone has actually touched on this jewel and posits the possibility it being still around or in the Russian Jewel Fund. I would just love to see this piece reappear maybe at the next British Coronation but if it was not at the 1936 or the 1952 coronations my guess is that the chances of it turning up again are few. I look forward to debating and interacting with you more. Regards, Dave. Previous Message One of my all time favourite tiaras is the Russian diadem below. https://www.instagram.com/p/Bno4Qk1hNlD/ I recently joined an Instagram page titled Russian Treasure https://www.instagram.com/russian_treasure/ It included a post on this very tiara and it states the following: "A masterpiece of famous Russian court jeweler J. Duval, tiara with diamond pendeloques and large heart-shaped gem in the center, has long been in the possession of the Württemberg Royal Family. Originally commissioned by the Dowager Empress Maria Feodorovna in 1803, the tiara was evidently lent to her daughter-in-law, Empress Elizabeth Alekseevna, as this tiara is depicted in the portrait of 1828 and on one of the miniatures in the hairstyle of the consort of Alexander I. A few years after the death of Maria Feodorovna the jewel could become part of the dowry of one of the Grand Duchesses, since the inventories of the different years do not mention the presence of the tiara with pendeloques in the collection of Russian Crown Jewels. In the official portraits of Empress Alexandra Feodorovna of 1911 again found a recognizable tiara, which three years before the publication of pictures, was bought from the Duchess Vera Konstantinovna of Württemberg, great granddaughter of Maria Feodorovna. Traces of the tiara with pendeloques lost after drawing up of the Soviet catalogue of the Russian Crown Jewels of 1922." Adding 2 and 2 two together, I can only assume that the tiara formed part of the dowry of Olga Nikolaevna of Russia, daughter of Tsar Nicholas I of Russia and granddaughter of Tsarina Maria Feodrovna of Russia. She became Queen of Württemberg, however was childless. However she did "adopt" her niece, Grand Duchess Vera, who married a member of the Wurttenberg royal house and who it appears owned the tiara before it was sold back to the Russian Treasury in around 1908/09. Vera's motivation for selling it is unclear as she was considered to be fabulously wealthy, being the heiress of her "adopted" parents Charles I and Olga of Württemberg. I discounted that it could have come from Catherine Pavlovna of Russia, Tsarina Maria Feodrovna of Russia's daughter and who was briefly Queen of Württemberg as she produced two daughters, one of who became Queen of the Netherlands, who likely would have inherited her jewels rather than being kept by the Württemberg treasury. I havent been able to find any evidence of either Queen Olga or Grand Duchess Vera wearing it though, in all of the pictures where she is wearing a tiara, most likely for events associated with 1896 Coronation, she is wearing an impressive Kokoshink fringe tiara, along with a sizeable brooch and some chunky emeralds. http://www.gogmsite.net/_Media/1896-coronation-ball-celebr-2.jpeg

Re: Russian tiara that left Russia and then returned Posted by Janet on September 3, 2019, 3:51 am, in reply to "Re: Russian tiara that left Russia and then returned" Thank you Dave. I have to say I am not as ambitious/hopeful as you that we will ever see this tiara again, although I would be very happy to be wrong in this instance! I would settle for proper photographs of the Romanov jewels being released. We've all seen that fabulous table of Romanov jewels, my dream is that each item on that table has been properly photographed. The problem is that so many of the brooches, necklaces etc cannot be properly appreciated as they are laid flat. The way the French Imperial jewels were photographed in 1887 was really very good as you can properly appreciate each items style and beauty. While I accept jewels are broken up and adapted, I do think it is essential that they are properly photographed before that happens so the legacy can be appreciated. There are also the tragic pictures of the jewels of Grand Duchess Xenia and Princess Irina Yusupov being ripped up and the grainy, small personal jewels of the Tsarina from 1933. My personal theory (and I have no evidence to back it up) is that each item of jewellery that appears in those grainy difficult to see photographs was meticulously photographed and recorded, that was the Soviets style and somewhere in a vault somewhere in Russia, hundreds of these photos are just sat there waiting to be discovered. Lets all hope. We can just dream that a cache of hidden jewels remains there as well, although I think given the Soviets financial problems, I suspect that is unlikely.

Re: Russian tiara that left Russia and then returned Posted by OmerH on September 3, 2019, 4:03 am, in reply to "Re: Russian tiara that left Russia and then returned" Janet may I recommend the book "Russia's treasure of diamonds and precious stones" published in 1925. It has some great individual photographs of the jewels displayed in the infamous table photograph. Alas the photos are in black and white but still its better than nothing. Lucky for us it is available for free online: https://archive.org/details/RussiasTreasureOfDiamondsAndPreciousStones

Re: Russian tiara that left Russia and then returned Posted by kat max on September 3, 2019, 7:23 pm, in reply to "Re: Russian tiara that left Russia and then returned" In addition to the Fersman 1925 catalogue the following items are also available for free download Sotheby's - Historic And Magnificent Diamond Imperial Jewel - 17 November 2005 https://archive.org/details/HistoricAndMagnificentDiamondImperialJewel Christie's 1927 sale catalogue for the Russian State Jewels in London. https://archive.org/details/ChristiesJewels00n

Re: Russian tiara that left Russia and then returned Posted by Beth on September 4, 2019, 5:53 am, in reply to "Re: Russian tiara that left Russia and then returned" Thank you Kat Max! Those links will be invaluable.

Re: Russian tiara that left Russia and then returned Posted by OmerH on September 3, 2019, 3:54 am, in reply to "Russian tiara that left Russia and then returned" Welcome Janet!! Looking forward to learning more from your contributions.

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