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Jewels of Rachel, Countess of Dudley after the 1902 sale
Posted by Beth on November 6, 2019, 12:37 pm
Like, her mother-in-law, Rachel, Countess of Dudley was a noted beauty and wearer of grand jewels.
Below are some images and information about jewels she wore following the 1902 sale.
Rubies
From August 1902 to December 1905 the second Earl of Dudley was Viceroy of Ireland, where he was said to have entertained extravagantly. At the time the Viceroys funded much of the official (and all private) entertaining themselves.
1904
1905
1908
1908
I strongly suspect that Rachel, Countess of Dudley can be seen with the rubies in the images below. I don't recollect seeing a caption saying these were her rubies, but the stones are relatively small. Her other noted necklace contained sapphires (so said the press) and I think it is more likely that the sapphires would have been larger stones.
From the 1902 coronation.
Some details
The image below is also from the 1902 coronation. It was published when the Earl was appointed as Governor General of Australia in 1908. This shows that Rachel was wearing jewelled tassels hanging down her gown.
Detail of tiara
Detail of stomacher
Pearls and diamonds
When the Earl and Countess hosted official functions in Ireland, the press reported on her jewels and occasionally photos of her in grand jewels were published.
One set of such photos shows a largish diamond and pearl tiara, strings of pearls and a brooch with large pearls.
The photo below comes from Australian records and is dated 1911 during the time of the Earl's tenure as Governor General of Australia 1908--1911. Rachel appears to have used it as an official image, but the photo was taken at the time of the Empire Ball in March 1905 ball in Dublin.
1905 publication of photos from the series.
In 1910 during a sojourn in the UK and before resuming her role as wife of the Governor-General in Australia this series of photos appeared in the UK media. For this photo session, Rachel was wearing an impressive brooch and strand of pearls.
Detail
Another diamond tiara
Rachel Dudley also owned a diamond laurel leaf tiara which she wore for the opera gala evening during the Spanish state visit in 1905.
She may have also owned another significant diamond tiara as per this 1908 report, although it is possible that it was the laurel leaf tiara which contained the Dudley diamond.
Dudley Diamond The Earl of Dudley or his mother, Georgina also had the 47.69 carat diamond known as the Star of South Africa. It had been purchased by the first Earl for Georgina, some time before 1882 when Edwin Streeter mentioned it in his 1882 book. No one seems to have published when it was sold to the owner who auctioned it at Christie's in 1974. Ian Balfour in his book on famous diamonds noted that the owner said it had been owned by the family for 60 years.
Re: Jewels of Rachel, Countess of Dudley after the 1902 sale
The diamond diadem looks very similar to the QMGoGB&I tiara. I wonder if this said diadem was the one mentioned being given to her sister in law, the daughter of the 1st earl as a wedding present.
Regards,
Dave.
Previous Message
Like, her mother-in-law, Rachel, Countess of Dudley was a noted beauty and wearer of grand jewels.
Below are some images and information about jewels she wore following the 1902 sale.
Rubies
From August 1902 to December 1905 the second Earl of Dudley was Viceroy of Ireland, where he was said to have entertained extravagantly. At the time the Viceroys funded much of the official (and all private) entertaining themselves.
1904
1905
1908
1908
I strongly suspect that Rachel, Countess of Dudley can be seen with the rubies in the images below. I don't recollect seeing a caption saying these were her rubies, but the stones are relatively small. Her other noted necklace contained sapphires (so said the press) and I think it is more likely that the sapphires would have been larger stones.
From the 1902 coronation.
Some details
The image below is also from the 1902 coronation. It was published when the Earl was appointed as Governor General of Australia in 1908. This shows that Rachel was wearing jewelled tassels hanging down her gown.
Detail of tiara
Detail of stomacher
Pearls and diamonds
When the Earl and Countess hosted official functions in Ireland, the press reported on her jewels and occasionally photos of her in grand jewels were published.
One set of such photos shows a largish diamond and pearl tiara, strings of pearls and a brooch with large pearls.
The photo below comes from Australian records and is dated 1911 during the time of the Earl's tenure as Governor General of Australia 1908--1911. Rachel appears to have used it as an official image, but the photo was taken at the time of the Empire Ball in March 1905 ball in Dublin.
1905 publication of photos from the series.
In 1910 during a sojourn in the UK and before resuming her role as wife of the Governor-General in Australia this series of photos appeared in the UK media. For this photo session, Rachel was wearing an impressive brooch and strand of pearls.
Detail
Another diamond tiara
Rachel Dudley also owned a diamond laurel leaf tiara which she wore for the opera gala evening during the Spanish state visit in 1905.
She may have also owned another significant diamond tiara as per this 1908 report, although it is possible that it was the laurel leaf tiara which contained the Dudley diamond.
Dudley Diamond The Earl of Dudley or his mother, Georgina also had the 47.69 carat diamond known as the Star of South Africa. It had been purchased by the first Earl for Georgina, some time before 1882 when Edwin Streeter mentioned it in his 1882 book. No one seems to have published when it was sold to the owner who auctioned it at Christie's in 1974. Ian Balfour in his book on famous diamonds noted that the owner said it had been owned by the family for 60 years.
Re: Jewels of Rachel, Countess of Dudley after the 1902 sale
Well spotted Dave! The tiara worn by Rachel, Countess of Dudley for the Empire Ball in Dublin in early 1905 is reminiscent of the Girls of Great Britain and Ireland tiara given to Queen Mary as a wedding gift in 1893.
If the report in 1900 about Lady Edith Ward, Lady Wolverton, wearing a "crown" made by Boucheron was accurate and that the tiara in question was a wedding gift, I doubt if it is the same one. Lady Edith married in 1895. I think it is unlikely that her sister-in-law, Rachel, would have borrowed the tiara to wear in Dublin in 1905. But, as we all know, anything is possible.
The only item resembling a tiara in the list of Lady Edith's wedding gifts was the jewel given to her by her mother, Georgina, Countess of Dudley, but the press may have been referring to other jewels left to Edith by her father. Perhaps she only commenced wearing some after she married and so people assumed they were wedding presents. I have yet to find a list of those jewels.
Re: Jewels of Rachel, Countess of Dudley after the 1902 sale
Ahh Beth, so the tiara worn by Rachel 1895 is a copy to the QMGoGB&I tiara 1893 if it came 2 years after QM was gifted with hers? So does this mean we have/ had two such QMGoGB&I tiaras in existence then? Because the two looks just the same. I wonder if Vincent can help us out here?
Regards,
Dave.
Previous Message
Well spotted Dave! The tiara worn by Rachel, Countess of Dudley for the Empire Ball in Dublin in early 1905 is reminiscent of the Girls of Great Britain and Ireland tiara given to Queen Mary as a wedding gift in 1893.
If the report in 1900 about Lady Edith Ward, Lady Wolverton, wearing a "crown" made by Boucheron was accurate and that the tiara in question was a wedding gift, I doubt if it is the same one. Lady Edith married in 1895. I think it is unlikely that her sister-in-law, Rachel, would have borrowed the tiara to wear in Dublin in 1905. But, as we all know, anything is possible.
The only item resembling a tiara in the list of Lady Edith's wedding gifts was the jewel given to her by her mother, Georgina, Countess of Dudley, but the press may have been referring to other jewels left to Edith by her father. Perhaps she only commenced wearing some after she married and so people assumed they were wedding presents. I have yet to find a list of those jewels.
Re: Jewels of Rachel, Countess of Dudley after the 1902 sale
Many thanks 992234177. I agree that Lady Mount Stephen's diamond and pearl tiara is also reminiscent of the Girls of Great Britain and Ireland tiara; yet it too is different.
Lady Mount Stephen's tiara which was auctioned for charity as directed by her will.
Comparison of tiaras worn by Rachel, Countess of Dudley and Queen Mary.
I have no doubt that there are other tiaras which will similarly call to mind the Girls of Great Britain and Ireland tiara.
I don't know which tiara was created first. The style was obviously favoured by ladies in the UK, as all the ones I know of are variations on a theme.
Rachel, Countess of Dudley was married in September 1891, but this tiara was not among her wedding gifts.
Wedding gifts of Rachel, Countess of Dudley.
Queen Mary married, as we know, in 1893, while Lady Mount Stephen married in 1897.
Perhaps the style for Queen Mary's tiara was copied from someone else's tiara, or perhaps from the one owned by Rachel, Countess of Dudley!
Re: Jewels of Rachel, Countess of Dudley after the 1902 sale
Beth, check the base of the QMGoGB&I tiara which can be detached, it practically looks identical to the base of the tiara of Rachel, Countess of Dudley. Please see picture below.
Many thanks 992234177. I agree that Lady Mount Stephen's diamond and pearl tiara is also reminiscent of the Girls of Great Britain and Ireland tiara; yet it too is different.
Lady Mount Stephen's tiara which was auctioned for charity as directed by her will.
Comparison of tiaras worn by Rachel, Countess of Dudley and Queen Mary.
I have no doubt that there are other tiaras which will similarly call to mind the Girls of Great Britain and Ireland tiara.
I don't know which tiara was created first. The style was obviously favoured by ladies in the UK, as all the ones I know of are variations on a theme.
Rachel, Countess of Dudley was married in September 1891, but this tiara was not among her wedding gifts.
Wedding gifts of Rachel, Countess of Dudley.
Queen Mary married, as we know, in 1893, while Lady Mount Stephen married in 1897.
Perhaps the style for Queen Mary's tiara was copied from someone else's tiara, or perhaps from the one owned by Rachel, Countess of Dudley!
The design of the detachable base of Girls of Great Britian & Ireland tiara is often referred to as "diamond & dot" pattern and was frequently used by Garrards.
Queen Mary with the base of her tiara:
Duchesd of Roxburgh's diamond tiara also featured a similar base.
Queen Mary had another tiara with similar base design. It was inherited by the Kents and worn by the current duchess at her wedding.
The tiara was remodeled as a fringe but the base design was kept as is:
Re: Tiara Base
Posted by Beth on November 11, 2019, 10:03 am, in reply to "Tiara Base"
Many thanks OmerH. That pattern for a base band was definitely very popular.