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Delhi Durbar bracelet. Re-thinking provenance
Posted by Beth on December 11, 2021, 6:23 pm
Until a few months ago, I always assumed that the bracelet which we think of as part of the Delhi Durbar parure was commissioned by Queen Mary when she had the other jewels made.
The bracelet
Then I found numerous reports that the Ladies of Glasgow and the West of Scotland had presented the Queen with a bracelet, with a diamond band and 3 large emeralds, as a coronation gift. The presentation was made in Glasgow on 18 July 1911 by Lady McInness Shaw, the wife of the Lord Provost and a delegation of ladies. At the time Queen Mary and the King were doing a coronation tour in Scotland, having finished their tour of Ireland and parts of England.
It was reported that, at a grand banquet on the evening of 18 July, Queen Mary sent for Lady McInnes Shaw to show her that HM was wearing the bracelet, which she is reported to have said matched the jewels she was wearing.
I had always assumed that the bracelet was commissioned by Queen Mary. Now I think otherwise.
Unfortunately, I cannot find any sketches or photos which might show what the Glasgow bracelet looked like.
What is certain, however, is that in the photos taken by the photographer, Stuart in mid-June 1911 (just before the coronation) Queen Mary is not seen wearing the bracelet with the 3 large emeralds.
For example in this image
Yet, in the photos taken from the grand ceremonial occasion at the Delhi Durbar, it is evident that Queen Mary is wearing the bracelet.
Neither Hugh Roberts in The Queen's Diamonds or the Royal Collection site has anything specific about this bracelet. Yet, the Royal Collection site notes that the bracelet/bangle with the 2 oval emeralds was part of the original parure, which by that I suspect they mean the parure worn by the Duchess of Teck and the Duchess of Cambridge.
Does anyone have any ideas about the bracelet with the 3 large emeralds? Or other knowledge?
Until a few months ago, I always assumed that the bracelet which we think of as part of the Delhi Durbar parure was commissioned by Queen Mary when she had the other jewels made.
The bracelet
Then I found numerous reports that the Ladies of Glasgow and the West of Scotland had presented the Queen with a bracelet, with a diamond band and 3 large emeralds, as a coronation gift. The presentation was made in Glasgow on 18 July 1911 by Lady McInness Shaw, the wife of the Lord Provost and a delegation of ladies. At the time Queen Mary and the King were doing a coronation tour in Scotland, having finished their tour of Ireland and parts of England.
It was reported that, at a grand banquet on the evening of 18 July, Queen Mary sent for Lady McInnes Shaw to show her that HM was wearing the bracelet, which she is reported to have said matched the jewels she was wearing.
I had always assumed that the bracelet was commissioned by Queen Mary. Now I think otherwise.
Unfortunately, I cannot find any sketches or photos which might show what the Glasgow bracelet looked like.
What is certain, however, is that in the photos taken by the photographer, Stuart in mid-June 1911 (just before the coronation) Queen Mary is not seen wearing the bracelet with the 3 large emeralds.
For example in this image
Yet, in the photos taken from the grand ceremonial occasion at the Delhi Durbar, it is evident that Queen Mary is wearing the bracelet.
Neither Hugh Roberts in The Queen's Diamonds or the Royal Collection site has anything specific about this bracelet. Yet, the Royal Collection site notes that the bracelet/bangle with the 2 oval emeralds was part of the original parure, which by that I suspect they mean the parure worn by the Duchess of Teck and the Duchess of Cambridge.
Does anyone have any ideas about the bracelet with the 3 large emeralds? Or other knowledge?