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.
Anglesey tiara on display. Edited for a date typo and a comment
Posted by Beth on March 11, 2020, 7:03 pm
This site has a superb photo of Anglesey tiara currently for sale by Hancocks of London.
Just to add to the confusion about the date this tiara was initially acquired by the Marquesses of Anglesey, the caption under the tiara gives a date of circa 1880. The text information says circa 1890.
The marriage does not appear to have flourished as by April 1882 the 4th Marquess was advertising in the Paris papers that, unless he gave written consent, he would not pay bills for his wife.
After that I have found only a few references to this Marchioness of Anglesey. After her death in May 1931 the press reports mentioned that she was a great beauty. She was occasionally mentioned in the UK press and attended the 1902 Coronation, but I suspect she lived mainly on the Continent.
Was the tiara purchased for her? It is an intriguing possibility if the date of manufacture of circa 1880 is correct.
If the tiara was acquired by the 5th Marquess circa 1890, the question is why. He didn't marry until January 1898, and before his father's death he does not appear to have been so flamboyant with his own personal jewels.
In his will the 4th Marquess left his personal estate to a Countess Galve in Paris with the proviso that his son could buy any plate, personal items etc at value from the Countess. But if the 5th Marquess were to have purchased the tiara from the Countess it seems odd that it was not among the jewels which his trustees sold to satisfy his creditors.
The 5th Marquess (the famous Dancing Marquess) obviously had access to considerable money before he inherited the title, as the jewellery he gave to his wife as wedding gifts was extensive. He married his first cousin in January 1898. (His father died in October that year) Nothing in the list of the wedding gifts matches this tiara; nor was the wife of the 5th Marquess ever photographed wearing the tiara (as far as I know).
I wonder if any additional information will be given about this tiara? Every time I read something, more questions arise.
Edit: The thing which interests me is that for this jewel not to have been sold when the 5th Marquess was in dire straits, I suspect it had to have been an heirloom. But who purchased it? The 4th Marquess? Or the 5th?
I thought others might be interested in press reports of the jewels given to Lilian Chetwynd who married the 5th Marquess of Anglesey -- the so called "Dancing Marquess".
Re: Anglesey. some images of Lilian, the wife of the 5th Marquess
There are not many photos available of Lilian Chetwynd, the wife of the 5th Marquess of Anglesey.
Most of the photos I would classify as artistic. Her jewels are usually minimal but, on closer examination, I suspect that her tiaras, while not grandiose, are expensive jewels.
I have wondered if this tiara is the one with butterflies referred to in her list of wedding jewels?
An attractive tiara from a photo published in 1901
1902
1902
Published in 1909 but I think photo was from earlier.
Published in 1909
Re: Anglesey. Jewels given to Lilian Chetyynd, wife of 5th Marquess
What a fine and detailed research Beth, I enjoyed every bit of it. Oh How would I love to see the reported on jewels or to know where they went too especially the diamond and emerald tiara and the diamond and ruby necklet as reported in the press reports Beth provided.
Regards,
Dave.
Previous Message
I thought others might be interested in press reports of the jewels given to Lilian Chetwynd who married the 5th Marquess of Anglesey -- the so called "Dancing Marquess".
The marriage of Lilian Chetwynd to her first cousin the 5th Marquess of Anglesey was not a success. Initially, the press reported the movements of the couple around the UK and Europe, but gradually the social reports were about her alone.
In 1900 she petitioned for a divorce, which was granted.
But she applied to the Court to have the order rescinded prior to the decree becoming absolute.
While she does not appear to have co-habitated with her husband, it was reported that she was with him when he died.
What financial settlements were made on her or what happened to the gifts given to her on her marriage are unknown, but she continued to lead a social life.
In 1909 she decided to remarry - to John Gilliatt - and, contrary to contemporary custom, she relinquished use of the title Marchioness.
The above report, stating that her friends had clubbed together to give her a tiara, might suggest that, in light of her new marriage, she no longer wished to wear jewels acquired through her first marriage, an entirely understandable situation.
As Mrs John Gilliatt she featured regularly in the press and was photographed, although usually in day clothes at the races etc.
But back to tiaras.
For the Children's Jewel Fund, a charity collection and auction in 1918 she donated a diamond tiara.
closer view
It seems that this was not Lilian's only tiara at the time, as when her daughter married Sir Richard Sykes in 1942 she wore an intricate, yet delicate, tiara. The style of this jewel reminds me of the delicate tiaras Lilian was photographed wearing in the early years of her first marriage, but whether it was given to her by the 5th Marquess is unknown.
on March 11, 2020, 7:03 pm
Previous Message
