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Pearl necklace of Queen Mary II Posted by kat max on September 29, 2020, 5:23 pm A while back in a book on pearls I stumbled across this necklace. It was new to me and I thought it might be appreciated by people here. I can't seem to find any photos of the Duchess of Portland wearing this piece, but pearl necklaces are often hard to distinguish. Natural pearl necklace c1662-94. This necklace was once owned by Queen Mary II of England and was given to Winifred, Duchess of Portland and has stayed in the family ever since.

Re: Pearl necklace of Queen Mary II Posted by mauriz on September 29, 2020, 6:03 pm, in reply to "Pearl necklace of Queen Mary II" Very interesting. It's quite unusual that the pear shaped pearl is fitted with just a pin and an eyelet, which makes it a bit easier to identify. I think Winifred Duchess of Portland is wearing the drop pearl pendant with its distinctive hook – but not necessarily Queen Mary's pearl necklace which seems to be shorter – in this photo from the coronation of King Edward VII in 1902. In this painting by Philip de László (1912) it might be both, necklace and pendant, she's holding in her hand. And in this painting by John Singer Sargent (1902) it could be the necklace and the pendant – there seems to be a hint of the hook – attached to her waist.

Re: Pearl necklace of Queen Mary II Posted by kat max on September 29, 2020, 6:13 pm, in reply to "Re: Pearl necklace of Queen Mary II" I think you might be right about the drop being attached to other necklaces. If it is the same necklace being held in the second painting - and they look very similar - it might be there simply because of the ancestral value it had to the family. Its an unusual choice to hold a necklace like this in a portrait unless it had some specific meaning.

Re: Pearl necklace of Queen Mary II Posted by 992234177 on September 30, 2020, 3:55 am, in reply to "Re: Pearl necklace of Queen Mary II" I remember several years ago I came across a picture of the Pearl necklace owned by lady Anne Clifford, countess of Dorset and Pembroke daughter of the Earl of Cumberland which he gained through piracy. It was made up of surprisingly small pearls. It was black and white and very old but I cannot find it again.

Re: Pearl necklace of Queen Mary II Posted by Beth on September 30, 2020, 1:51 pm, in reply to "Re: Pearl necklace of Queen Mary II" How incredibly interesting! Thanks Kat Max. Was any additional information given about who gave the necklace to Winifred, Duchess of Portland and why? Well spotted Mauriz! I am sure you are correct. The shape of the pendant pearl is so distinctive.

Re: Pearl necklace of Queen Mary II Posted by kat max on September 30, 2020, 5:20 pm, in reply to "Re: Pearl necklace of Queen Mary II" There wasn't much information with the photo alas, and I've put here what was given with the picture at the time I found it. I was surprised because early jewels don't seem to survive in great numbers in the UK.

Re: Pearl necklace of Queen Mary II Posted by mauriz on September 30, 2020, 8:54 pm, in reply to "Re: Pearl necklace of Queen Mary II" According to The Lafayette Negative Archive – with reference to Diana Scarisbrick, Ancestral Jewels, London, 1989, p. 45 – the pearl necklace with pendant pearl owned by Queen Mary II was a gift of King William III to Henry Bentinck, 1st Duke of Portland (1682–1726).

Re: Pearl necklace of Queen Mary II Posted by Beth on October 3, 2020, 5:48 am, in reply to "Re: Pearl necklace of Queen Mary II" Many thanks Mauriz! Previous Message According to The Lafayette Negative Archive – with reference to Diana Scarisbrick, Ancestral Jewels, London, 1989, p. 45 – the pearl necklace with pendant pearl owned by Queen Mary II was a gift of King William III to Henry Bentinck, 1st Duke of Portland (1682–1726).

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