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Queen Mary. A new brooch?? Posted by Beth on September 9, 2020, 4:54 pm I found the following extract about a brooch given to Queen Mary by the Duke of Windsor (Edward VIII). Although the year is not specifically mentioned it was 1925 following George V's illness. From Queen Mary. A life and intimate study by Kathleen Woodward. http://www.public-library.uk/dailyebook/Queen%20Mary.pdf The only photograph I could find of Queen Mary relating to the departure to Italy was of the King and Queen boarding the train at Calais. I suspect that Queen Mary may still have been dressed as she was when leaving London --but?? I am not familiar with the brooch HM has on her hat. My initial reaction was that it didn't look like it had onyx but, as onyx doesn't have to be black, it might. What do others think? Or does anyone know of a brooch Queen Mary wore which did contain onyx? Detail

Re: Queen Mary. A new brooch?? Posted by MarcA on September 10, 2020, 2:36 pm, in reply to "Queen Mary. A new brooch??" As we know papers/journalists can often get the finer details wrong. Perhaps the brooch was opal as opposed to onyx? This would explain the brooches whiteness despite onyx coming in white. The POW also did a tour of Australia in 1920 when the art deco period hadn't really taken off so it may have been a gift from then and pieces had a more Edwardian style. Previous Message I found the following extract about a brooch given to Queen Mary by the Duke of Windsor (Edward VIII). Although the year is not specifically mentioned it was 1925 following George V's illness. From Queen Mary. A life and intimate study by Kathleen Woodward. http://www.public-library.uk/dailyebook/Queen%20Mary.pdf The only photograph I could find of Queen Mary relating to the departure to Italy was of the King and Queen boarding the train at Calais. I suspect that Queen Mary may still have been dressed as she was when leaving London --but?? I am not familiar with the brooch HM has on her hat. My initial reaction was that it didn't look like it had onyx but, as onyx doesn't have to be black, it might. What do others think? Or does anyone know of a brooch Queen Mary wore which did contain onyx? Detail

Re: Queen Mary. A new brooch?? Posted by Beth on September 10, 2020, 5:19 pm, in reply to "Re: Queen Mary. A new brooch??" I think you may be on the right track Marc! The gushing tone of this biography suggests to me that the author may have embellished things a "trifle". Perhaps Queen Mary didn't have an onyx brooch. For the era black onyx was the fashion, and the brooch worn in the photo above definitely isn't a black onyx brooch. Of course, the brooch Queen Mary wore in her hat may not have been the one the Duke of Windsor is said to have given his mother. Today I realised that I had this image of Queen Mary wearing what I think is the same brooch she was photographed wearing at Calais in 1925. The photo below was published in 1938. It looks to me as if the small dome shaped stones in the middle might be small pearls. What do others think?

Re: Queen Mary. A new brooch?? I agree with Marc A Posted by Mike on September 12, 2020, 5:42 pm, in reply to "Re: Queen Mary. A new brooch??" I agree with Marc A for reasons of colour. I also think that Queen Mary would not have worn black onyx unless she was in mourning of half mourning. Mike Previous Message I think you may be on the right track Marc! The gushing tone of this biography suggests to me that the author may have embellished things a "trifle". Perhaps Queen Mary didn't have an onyx brooch. For the era black onyx was the fashion, and the brooch worn in the photo above definitely isn't a black onyx brooch. Of course, the brooch Queen Mary wore in her hat may not have been the one the Duke of Windsor is said to have given his mother. Today I realised that I had this image of Queen Mary wearing what I think is the same brooch she was photographed wearing at Calais in 1925. The photo below was published in 1938. It looks to me as if the small dome shaped stones in the middle might be small pearls. What do others think?

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