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Bathurst jewels. Some being worn Posted by Beth on June 29, 2020, 7:54 am I am looking forward to reading the Christie's catalogue showing more of the Bathurst jewels which are being sold when it is released. I've had internet connection problems and so I haven't done an extensive search. The Bathurst ladies are very interesting. Sadly for us, none of those living in the twentieth century appeared regularly in the press photographed wearing grand jewels. The most interesting (to me) is Lilias Borthwick, wife of the 7th Earl Bathurst, whom she married in 1893. I have yet to look at her wedding presents etc. After the death of her father, Baron Glenesk in 1908, Lilias became the proprietor of the Morning Post, a politically influential paper. Initially, it was said that she wouldn't have direct involvement with the paper and that male trustees had been appointed. Whether the latter is true or was just a press rumour, it soon became apparent that she was very much a hands on owner directing editorial content until she sold the paper in 1924. Her daughter-in-law, (known as Lady Apsley) a keen hunting enthusiast and author is equally interesting. There are press reports of her wearing a tiara but so far I haven't seen photos of her with one. Nor have I seen her wearing really grand jewels. Several factors may have contributed to this: personal inclination, the fact that her husband died early in WWII and her son inherited the title while Lilias, the 7th Countess, lived until 1965. Following a hunting accident in 1931 Lady Apsley used a wheel chair but that did not inhibit her from attending balls etc where it might be expected that such jewels would be worn. As we have seen from the information published by Vincent Meylan (see https://www.instagram.com/vincentmeylan/?hl=en) two tiaras and a grand stomacher are to be auctioned. One of the tiaras and the stomacher are by Cartier, although I haven't seen any indication of when Cartier made the jewels. As Vincently Meylan has already noted, the other, probably older, tiara was worn by Lilias to the 1902 coronation. Lilias, Countess of Bathurst at the 1902 coronation. The most frequent evening occasions where both of these ladies were photographed were the Hunt balls associated with the VWH (Vale of the White Horse) Hunt at Cirencester. For the history of this Hunt group see https://www.vwh-hunt.co.uk/about/history Lilias wearing the same tiara to a Hunt ball in 1922. I didn't find an image of Lilias with the Cartier tiara until 1937. If, as has been suggested by Vincent Meylan, https://www.instagram.com/vincentmeylan/?hl=en , the Cartier tiara and stomacher were made at the same time, then the tiara was made much earlier than 1937, as Lilias was photographed wearing the stomacher to a Hunt ball in 1926. In 1926 she was also wearing the same diamond necklace worn to the 1902 coronation. Both the 7th Countess and her daughter-in-law (Lady Apsley) were photographed frequently wearing pearl necklaces, but I cannot tell if any of them are the historic necklaces being auctioned. It seems likely that they might be.

Re: Bathurst jewels. Some being worn Posted by Dave on June 29, 2020, 9:39 am, in reply to "Bathurst jewels. Some being worn" Thanks Beth, maybe their was no prenuptial agreement between the Countess Gloria Bathurst and her late husband the 7th Earl and sadly/ unfortunately she is able as wife to dispose of very historic and valuable items from the family collection as she deems fit. Maybe I dont quite understand all the technicalities as it relates to the British aristocracy but I am sure most of the landed estates along with real property are somehow entailed and follow through family progeny. I wouldn't doubt that the present 8th Earl will not somehow contest this latest coup de grace from the grave. But I do know in our legal system which is also based on the British legal system, the wife has all of the rights unquestioningly. The jewels from the little I have seen are exceptional coming from Cartier and are really historic. I would love to have some more info on the pearls with what I believe to be a diamond collect seen on the Countess in the picture though. Regards, Dave. Previous Message I am looking forward to reading the Christie's catalogue showing more of the Bathurst jewels which are being sold when it is released. I've had internet connection problems and so I haven't done an extensive search. The Bathurst ladies are very interesting. Sadly for us, none of those living in the twentieth century appeared regularly in the press photographed wearing grand jewels. The most interesting (to me) is Lilias Borthwick, wife of the 7th Earl Bathurst, whom she married in 1893. I have yet to look at her wedding presents etc. After the death of her father, Baron Glenesk in 1908, Lilias became the proprietor of the Morning Post , a politically influential paper. Initially, it was said that she wouldn't have direct involvement with the paper and that male trustees had been appointed. Whether the latter is true or was just a press rumour, it soon became apparent that she was very much a hands on owner directing editorial content until she sold the paper in 1924. Her daughter-in-law, (known as Lady Apsley) a keen hunting enthusiast and author is equally interesting. There are press reports of her wearing a tiara but so far I haven't seen photos of her with one. Nor have I seen her wearing really grand jewels. Several factors may have contributed to this: personal inclination, the fact that her husband died early in WWII and her son inherited the title while Lilias, the 7th Countess, lived until 1965. Following a hunting accident in 1931 Lady Apsley used a wheel chair but that did not inhibit her from attending balls etc where it might be expected that such jewels would be worn. As we have seen from the information published by Vincent Meylan (see https://www.instagram.com/vincentmeylan/?hl=en ) two tiaras and a grand stomacher are to be auctioned. One of the tiaras and the stomacher are by Cartier, although I haven't seen any indication of when Cartier made the jewels. As Vincently Meylan has already noted, the other, probably older, tiara was worn by Lilias to the 1902 coronation. Lilias, Countess of Bathurst at the 1902 coronation. The most frequent evening occasions where both of these ladies were photographed were the Hunt balls associated with the VWH (Vale of the White Horse) Hunt at Cirencester. For the history of this Hunt group see https://www.vwh-hunt.co.uk/about/history Lilias wearing the same tiara to a Hunt ball in 1922. I didn't find an image of Lilias with the Cartier tiara until 1937. If, as has been suggested by Vincent Meylan, https://www.instagram.com/vincentmeylan/?hl=en , the Cartier tiara and stomacher were made at the same time, then the tiara was made much earlier than 1937, as Lilias was photographed wearing the stomacher to a Hunt ball in 1926. In 1926 she was also wearing the same diamond necklace worn to the 1902 coronation. Both the 7th Countess and her daughter-in-law (Lady Apsley) were photographed frequently wearing pearl necklaces, but I cannot tell if any of them are the historic necklaces being auctioned. It seems likely that they might be.

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