Made by François Kramer in 1855, this 141-carat diamond bow brooch was intended to serve as a buckle for a diamond belt! The Empress requested that the brooch be a little (just a little you understand) more elaborate ---- and five diamond pamilles and a pair of diamond tassels were added and so the piece was turned into a stomacher: A decoration pinned to the chest, extending down to the waist.
I’ve talked about the sale of the French jewels in 1887, so add this stunner to the list of jewels sold by the French Republic. You know what I am thinking…..whose bright idea was it to sell these magnificent jewels?! Even if you didn’t want them as a constant reminder of the French monarchy….lock them up in a vault! But not this government as this diamond brooch was purchased by Mrs. William B. Astor and remained a part of the Astor family for 100 years.
And then guess who comes a knocking? The French! In 2008, those crazy kids at The Louvre and Friends of the Louvre acquired this diamond brooch that was scheduled to be auctioned off by Christie’s New York. Apparently, they paid almost $11 million dollars for the brooch. Let’s see what would have been the better idea….leaving it locked in a vault (which would have been a shame as it is beautiful) or paying $11 million to get something back that used to be yours?
Sunday, September 12, 2010
Eugenie's Coronation Tiara
Charles Louis Napoleon Bonaparte became President of France's Second Republic in 1848. Four years later he decided that being President just wasn't good enough for him, and on December 2, 1851 he staged a coup and declared himself Emperor Napoleon III. Napoleon married Eugenie in January of 1853.
This crown was created for Eugenie, and has imperial gold eagles, gold leaves, 2,480 diamonds and 56 emeralds. Its worth noting that neither Napoleon or Eugenie were ever crowned. Not that doesn't make her an Empress or anything but its a shame that there are no actual pictures of her wearing the crown.
Napoleon III was overthrown in 1870 following France's loss in the Franco-Prussian war. As previously noted, the French Third Republic sold a variety of France's Crown Jewels in 1885, but they decided to keep this one. The crown is currently on display at the Louvre Museum in Paris. Note to self: next time I am in Paris, I must really check out the Louvre. I have only been to Paris once in my life, and I am kicking myself for not vising the museum.
This crown was created for Eugenie, and has imperial gold eagles, gold leaves, 2,480 diamonds and 56 emeralds. Its worth noting that neither Napoleon or Eugenie were ever crowned. Not that doesn't make her an Empress or anything but its a shame that there are no actual pictures of her wearing the crown.
Napoleon III was overthrown in 1870 following France's loss in the Franco-Prussian war. As previously noted, the French Third Republic sold a variety of France's Crown Jewels in 1885, but they decided to keep this one. The crown is currently on display at the Louvre Museum in Paris. Note to self: next time I am in Paris, I must really check out the Louvre. I have only been to Paris once in my life, and I am kicking myself for not vising the museum.
Friday, September 10, 2010
The Empress Eugenie Tiara
This tiara was a present from Emperor Napoleon III of France to Countess Eugenie de Montijo upon their marriage in 1853. The crown jewlers Gabriel Lemonnier and Francois Kramer created a new parure from the pearls that had been used by Empress Marie Louise and Marie Therese. So....here is the magic question...what exactly is a Parure? Well, I am glad you asked.....a parure is an entire wardrobe, or suite, of matching jewelry. Now I know what you are thinking....well then I have a parure...I have a set of earrings, a ring and a charm bracelet that looks exactly alike. Sorry..no dice kids......A parure is normally reserved for royalty and the wealthy. Their idea of a matching suite would include the earrings, the ring and the charm bracelet but it also might include a necklace, a tiara, a diadem, a bandeau, a pair of bracelets, pins and a brooch.
After the fall of the Empire, the tiara was returned to the state as they were considered crown jewels. Eugenie spent her remaining years in England. During the Third Republic of France (they've had five if you are counting), the crown jewels were put on display in 1878 and 1884, and finally, are you ready for this....sold at an auction in 1887! The thinking was we are republic now why do we need to keep things that remind us of our royal origins. Also, you don't want to keep items that may rally the remaining royalists to put another Frenchmen on the throne. Only the French!
But all was not lost, and the tiara soon returned to royal hands. In 1890, Prince Albert, the 9th Prince of Thurn and Taxis purchased the tiara on the occassion of his wedding to Archduchess Margarethe Klementine of Austria, whom he married on July 15, 1890. The tiara was worn by Countess Gloria of Schönburg-Glauchau in 1980 at her wedding to Prince Johannes, the 11th Prince of Thurn and Taxis. If you are a royal watcher, than you have surely heard of Princess Gloria....in the 80's she was known as Princess TNT. Maybe it was the of Gloria dressed as Marilyn Monroe wearing the tiara that changed some minds in France. In the early 90's, the tiara was purchased by the Friends of the Louvre Museum.....and there the tiara remains to this day.
After the fall of the Empire, the tiara was returned to the state as they were considered crown jewels. Eugenie spent her remaining years in England. During the Third Republic of France (they've had five if you are counting), the crown jewels were put on display in 1878 and 1884, and finally, are you ready for this....sold at an auction in 1887! The thinking was we are republic now why do we need to keep things that remind us of our royal origins. Also, you don't want to keep items that may rally the remaining royalists to put another Frenchmen on the throne. Only the French!
But all was not lost, and the tiara soon returned to royal hands. In 1890, Prince Albert, the 9th Prince of Thurn and Taxis purchased the tiara on the occassion of his wedding to Archduchess Margarethe Klementine of Austria, whom he married on July 15, 1890. The tiara was worn by Countess Gloria of Schönburg-Glauchau in 1980 at her wedding to Prince Johannes, the 11th Prince of Thurn and Taxis. If you are a royal watcher, than you have surely heard of Princess Gloria....in the 80's she was known as Princess TNT. Maybe it was the of Gloria dressed as Marilyn Monroe wearing the tiara that changed some minds in France. In the early 90's, the tiara was purchased by the Friends of the Louvre Museum.....and there the tiara remains to this day.
Welcome!
Welcome to my blog.....Eugenie's Royal Jewels!
I possess a love of all things Royal...the pomp, the tradition, the history and the jewels. I know a LOT (but always willing to learn) about the first three and very little about the jewels. This blog will allow me to put jewels in the same context as the first three. Don't get me wrong...I can look at a pair of earrings, a tiara, a ring and recognize the stone, and say I like this and I like that...but there is more to the jewelry than just the aesthetics. There is, boys and girls...a history to some of the jewels that grace the royal houses today. I am using this blog to learn more about the jewels that currently have a home with the present day Royals as well as jewels that don't.
Now about the name...well....I picked Eugenie because I simply love Eugenie of York. Unfortunately, there haven't been alot of occassions where Eugenie has gone into Grandma England's vault and borrowed a jewel or two...and honestly, there might not be one for a while. But Eugenie is one of my favorite British royals and well, how lucky are we that she was named after another favorite...........Queen Victoria Eugenie of Spain, who was in fact named after her godmother.....Empress Eugenie of France.
And so we begin with Empress Eugenie of France.
I possess a love of all things Royal...the pomp, the tradition, the history and the jewels. I know a LOT (but always willing to learn) about the first three and very little about the jewels. This blog will allow me to put jewels in the same context as the first three. Don't get me wrong...I can look at a pair of earrings, a tiara, a ring and recognize the stone, and say I like this and I like that...but there is more to the jewelry than just the aesthetics. There is, boys and girls...a history to some of the jewels that grace the royal houses today. I am using this blog to learn more about the jewels that currently have a home with the present day Royals as well as jewels that don't.
Now about the name...well....I picked Eugenie because I simply love Eugenie of York. Unfortunately, there haven't been alot of occassions where Eugenie has gone into Grandma England's vault and borrowed a jewel or two...and honestly, there might not be one for a while. But Eugenie is one of my favorite British royals and well, how lucky are we that she was named after another favorite...........Queen Victoria Eugenie of Spain, who was in fact named after her godmother.....Empress Eugenie of France.
And so we begin with Empress Eugenie of France.
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