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Franca Florio
Posted by Janet on September 9, 2019, 1:24 am
Franca Florio was a lady in waiting to Queen Elena of Italy and a leading member of European society in the WW1 era.
An exhibition on Franca's dresses was held in Italy in 2014 and these are incredible works of art. A link to more information about the exhibit with lots of pictures is below.
An exhibition on Franca's dresses was held in Italy in 2014 and these are incredible works of art. A link to more information about the exhibit with lots of pictures is below.
Below is a picture of her wearing a stunning tiara and choker necklace, which resembles the one worn by Queen Alexandra of Great Britain.
Apparently her husband was hit by hard times in the 1930s and in 1935 her jewels were sold.
I'd love to get a better quality picture of her tiara.
Re: Franca Florio
Posted by Dave on September 9, 2019, 11:51 am, in reply to "Franca Florio"
Thanks Janet for this item. The necklace surely does resemble the one worn by QA of the UK and I do wonder if that necklace still remains in the British royal family's possession and who might dawn it in time to come. There was a Documentary on HM the Queen and she was recorded as saying that most of QA's possessions I think she said pearls remained very much intact. And I did see another documentary that showed that QA was a avid collector of Faberge which can be seen in the the British collection today. I hope someone is able to get some coloured photos.
Regards,
Dave.
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Franca Florio was a lady in waiting to Queen Elena of Italy and a leading member of European society in the WW1 era.
An exhibition on Franca's dresses was held in Italy in 2014 and these are incredible works of art. A link to more information about the exhibit with lots of pictures is below.
Below is a picture of her wearing a stunning tiara and choker necklace, which resembles the one worn by Queen Alexandra of Great Britain.
Apparently her husband was hit by hard times in the 1930s and in 1935 her jewels were sold.
I'd love to get a better quality picture of her tiara.
Re: Franca Florio
Posted by Beth on September 9, 2019, 2:56 pm, in reply to "Re: Franca Florio"
Unfortunately, I haven't found a better photo of this very interesting lady wearing her tiara, Janet.
I did find an intriguing reference to a pearl and diamond tiara. Hopefully, someone will know more about it than I do.
From 1898
And this which provides a little more information.
Donna Franca Florio's jewels were stolen in 1922, but were recovered. The press didn't have lists of the jewels, unfortunately.
Re: Franca Florio
Posted by mauriz on September 9, 2019, 6:49 pm, in reply to "Re: Franca Florio"
The queen of Spain in question was Maria Christina of the Two Sicilies (1806–1878), who married Ferdinand VII of Spain in 1829 and after his death became regent of the kingdom between 1833 and 1840.
Shortly after the king's death she married Agustín Fernando Muñoz, a former sergeant of the royal guards with whom she had several children, of which the second was Maria de los Milagros, Marchioness of Castillejo (1835–1903) who married Filippo Massimiliano del Drago, Principe di Mazzano e d'Antuni in 1856.
Since the newspaper is from 1898, the tiara of diamonds and pearls was apparently sold during the princess del Drago's lifetime.
Here's the tiara in a – slightly – better version of the photo.
It's possible – or even likely – that the tiara was acquired for the dowry of the Marchioness of Castillejo in 1856 and that Queen Maria Christina has never worn it. There are a few paintings of the queen with diamond and pearl tiaras, but none of them seems a likely contender for Donna Franca's tiara, though one of them is certainly a contender for the most precariously placed tiara ever.
Re: Franca Florio
Posted by Beth on September 9, 2019, 7:16 pm, in reply to "Re: Franca Florio"
Fascinating, thank you Mauriz!
Here is a description of a pearl and diamond tiara worn by Princess del Drago. It could be a match.
From May 1866
One of the 1898 reports which I read about Franca Florio said that the tiara belonging to Princess del Drago had recently been sold.
Re: Franca Florio
Posted by mauriz on September 9, 2019, 7:23 pm, in reply to "Re: Franca Florio"
Yes, that sounds like a match. And according to the newspaper report the tiara was not acquired for the Marchioness of Castillejo's wedding, but formerly belonged to the Crown of Spain.
Re: Franca Florio
Posted by Thomas on September 9, 2019, 7:37 pm, in reply to "Re: Franca Florio"
Incidentally, I am currently writing a rather exhaustive post on Franca Florio's jewels, including this tiara.
It was sold to Ignazio Florio by Prince Giovanni Del Drago, but I don't have any conclusive information on the provenance. Most likely it was part of his mother's dowry as Mauriz suggested.
I will post my research in the coming days, with a number of high- resolution pictures!
Looking forward to it...
Posted by Janet on September 9, 2019, 7:41 pm, in reply to "Re: Franca Florio"
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Incidentally, I am currently writing a rather exhaustive post on Franca Florio's jewels, including this tiara.
It was sold to Ignazio Florio by Prince Giovanni Del Drago, but I don't have any conclusive information on the provenance. Most likely it was part of his mother's dowry as Mauriz suggested.
I will post my research in the coming days, with a number of high- resolution pictures!
Re: Franca Florio
Posted by OmerH on September 9, 2019, 8:30 pm, in reply to "Re: Franca Florio"
Can't wait Thomas!! These little known collections are always a treat to explore.
Re: Franca Florio
Posted by mauriz on September 9, 2019, 8:33 pm, in reply to "Re: Franca Florio"
on September 9, 2019, 1:24 am
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