And more!
Queen Victoria sapphire coronet
The Victoria and Albert museum, now known as the V&A is London's premier museum of art and design. Over the years I have seen a variety of exhibitions and last year was able to view the Dior retrospective.
Christian Dior, Designer of Dreams
As well as the Dior exhibition I popped into the Jewellery gallery as it had reopened after going through a refit. The Jewellery gallery has an history of jewellery through the ages, going back to the pre-Christian era.
After the refit, the main centrepiece of the gallery is its newest acquisition, Queen Victoria's sapphire coronet. (I worked out that coronet is a baby tiara, not a tiara for a baby! Just a very small tiara!) That was the first thing that struck me about the piece, is how small it is. The coronet was designed by Prince Albert for Victoria in 1840, not long after they were married, she wore it in a famous painting in 1842, the coronet was placed around the bun she wore in her hair. It closes to a complete circle or articulates out to be worn as a traditional tiara. The coronet was bought and donated to the V&A by the (wealthy!) family who are the benefactors of the Jewellery gallery. It's gorgeous to see close up, it's a really lovely piece.
The Manchester tiara
The gallery has a few different tiaras, a particularly grand one is the Manchester tiara. It had belonged to Consuelo, Duchess of Manchester, she was one of the original American heiresses, known as the Buccaneers, who married into the British aristocracy. (Theme of Downtown Abbey!) Consuelo had this tiara made in 1903 by Cartier, and it uses as its inspiration, pre revolution France. Consuelo died in 1909 so didn't get a lot of use from the tiara, a note on the information card states that the tiara was given to the Inland revenue in lieu of inheritance tax. It then was given to the V&A, with inheritance tax being high in the UK, aristocratic families with large assets negotiate with Inland revenue to surrender an asset which is equal in value to the amount of the tax. There are other items in the gallery that were also passed along in lieu of tax.
Bow broaches
In the late 19th and early 20th century these types of brooches were very popular, various royal families have managed to keep their examples of Bow brooches. I really like them and these ones are a more delicate example to some rather chunky ones I've seen (in pictures!)
Papillion ring
This ring of a butterfly, its wings vibrate gently, is from Beyonce's personal collection and the card states that it was given to the museum by the Knowles-Carter family. (Beyonce and her husband Jayz)
I particularly like Victorian and Edwardian jewellery so spent most of my time admiring those examples in the gallery. The tiara is called the Dufferin tiara as it was made for Hariot, the wife of the first Marquess of Dufferin and Ava, tiaras were made to be adjustable and this one has one of the shamrocks that can be detached and worn as a brooch. The tiara is from 1860 to 1870 and is on loan from the Trustees of the Maureen, Machioness of Dufferin and Ava Charitable Trust.
The other new acquisition that can now be seen in the jewellery gallery is a collection of decorative vanity cases. The Kashmira Bulsara Collection is on loan and a promised gift of Kashmira Bulsara in memory of her brother, Freddie Mercury. It's a beautiful collection of art deco vanity cases.
The V&A museum has a wonderful collection of materials and entrance to the museum is free, special exhibitions such as last year's Dior exhibition have a fee to enter. The Jewellery gallery is a permanent exhibition and so is free to enter. Before a trip to London I check the V&A website to see what new exhibitions are open during the time I'm there and then decide whether to add it to my list of things to see and do.
Kensington Palace
Last year was the 200th anniversary of the birth of Queen Victoria and Prince Albert, Kensington Palace opened their new permanent exhibition on Victoria's childhood as she grew up at Kensington Palace. Before entering the childhood exhibition there was a room with some gorgeous jewels.
Queen Victoria's emerald tiara, necklace and brooch.
Prince Albert was quite the designer and it seems he liked to see his wife wearing beautiful jewels. He designed this set in 1843, the tiara is much more substantive than the sapphire coronet, this set is quite heavy. It is on loan from the 3rd Duke of Fife, so it seems this set was passed to Victoria's grand-daughter Louise who married the 1st Duke.
Fife diamond tiara
Stunning tiara, the diamond drops move as the wearer moves around. This tiara was give to Victoria's grand-daughter Princess Louise on her wedding day by her husband the Duke of Fife. The information card states that this tiara was given to the UK Government in lieu of inheritance tax by the estate of the 3rd Duke of Fife (he died in 2015) and then allocated to Kensington Palace.
Princess Louise necklace tiara
This tiara is convertible and can be taken off its frame and worn as a necklace. It was given as a wedding gift to Princess Louise by her parents King Edward VII and Queen Alexandra. It's a very popular style of tiara inspired by the Russian style called 'kokoshnik', many royals have similar tiaras. (Including the Queen who wore a similar style as her wedding tiara) This one is on loan from the executors of the Duke of Fife.
There is a fee to enter Kensington Palace and the tiaras are just one of the many different exhibitions to enjoy.
The V&A jewellery gallery and then a visit to Kensington Palace is a great day out for any jewellery lover!
The Victoria and Albert museum, now known as the V&A is London's premier museum of art and design. Over the years I have seen a variety of exhibitions and last year was able to view the Dior retrospective.
Christian Dior, Designer of Dreams
As well as the Dior exhibition I popped into the Jewellery gallery as it had reopened after going through a refit. The Jewellery gallery has an history of jewellery through the ages, going back to the pre-Christian era.
After the refit, the main centrepiece of the gallery is its newest acquisition, Queen Victoria's sapphire coronet. (I worked out that coronet is a baby tiara, not a tiara for a baby! Just a very small tiara!) That was the first thing that struck me about the piece, is how small it is. The coronet was designed by Prince Albert for Victoria in 1840, not long after they were married, she wore it in a famous painting in 1842, the coronet was placed around the bun she wore in her hair. It closes to a complete circle or articulates out to be worn as a traditional tiara. The coronet was bought and donated to the V&A by the (wealthy!) family who are the benefactors of the Jewellery gallery. It's gorgeous to see close up, it's a really lovely piece.
The gallery has a few different tiaras, a particularly grand one is the Manchester tiara. It had belonged to Consuelo, Duchess of Manchester, she was one of the original American heiresses, known as the Buccaneers, who married into the British aristocracy. (Theme of Downtown Abbey!) Consuelo had this tiara made in 1903 by Cartier, and it uses as its inspiration, pre revolution France. Consuelo died in 1909 so didn't get a lot of use from the tiara, a note on the information card states that the tiara was given to the Inland revenue in lieu of inheritance tax. It then was given to the V&A, with inheritance tax being high in the UK, aristocratic families with large assets negotiate with Inland revenue to surrender an asset which is equal in value to the amount of the tax. There are other items in the gallery that were also passed along in lieu of tax.
In the late 19th and early 20th century these types of brooches were very popular, various royal families have managed to keep their examples of Bow brooches. I really like them and these ones are a more delicate example to some rather chunky ones I've seen (in pictures!)
This ring of a butterfly, its wings vibrate gently, is from Beyonce's personal collection and the card states that it was given to the museum by the Knowles-Carter family. (Beyonce and her husband Jayz)
I particularly like Victorian and Edwardian jewellery so spent most of my time admiring those examples in the gallery. The tiara is called the Dufferin tiara as it was made for Hariot, the wife of the first Marquess of Dufferin and Ava, tiaras were made to be adjustable and this one has one of the shamrocks that can be detached and worn as a brooch. The tiara is from 1860 to 1870 and is on loan from the Trustees of the Maureen, Machioness of Dufferin and Ava Charitable Trust.
The other new acquisition that can now be seen in the jewellery gallery is a collection of decorative vanity cases. The Kashmira Bulsara Collection is on loan and a promised gift of Kashmira Bulsara in memory of her brother, Freddie Mercury. It's a beautiful collection of art deco vanity cases.
The gallery has not just wearable jewellery but also decorative in the form of small boxes.
The V&A museum has a wonderful collection of materials and entrance to the museum is free, special exhibitions such as last year's Dior exhibition have a fee to enter. The Jewellery gallery is a permanent exhibition and so is free to enter. Before a trip to London I check the V&A website to see what new exhibitions are open during the time I'm there and then decide whether to add it to my list of things to see and do.
Kensington Palace
Last year was the 200th anniversary of the birth of Queen Victoria and Prince Albert, Kensington Palace opened their new permanent exhibition on Victoria's childhood as she grew up at Kensington Palace. Before entering the childhood exhibition there was a room with some gorgeous jewels.
Prince Albert was quite the designer and it seems he liked to see his wife wearing beautiful jewels. He designed this set in 1843, the tiara is much more substantive than the sapphire coronet, this set is quite heavy. It is on loan from the 3rd Duke of Fife, so it seems this set was passed to Victoria's grand-daughter Louise who married the 1st Duke.
Stunning tiara, the diamond drops move as the wearer moves around. This tiara was give to Victoria's grand-daughter Princess Louise on her wedding day by her husband the Duke of Fife. The information card states that this tiara was given to the UK Government in lieu of inheritance tax by the estate of the 3rd Duke of Fife (he died in 2015) and then allocated to Kensington Palace.
This tiara is convertible and can be taken off its frame and worn as a necklace. It was given as a wedding gift to Princess Louise by her parents King Edward VII and Queen Alexandra. It's a very popular style of tiara inspired by the Russian style called 'kokoshnik', many royals have similar tiaras. (Including the Queen who wore a similar style as her wedding tiara) This one is on loan from the executors of the Duke of Fife.
There is a fee to enter Kensington Palace and the tiaras are just one of the many different exhibitions to enjoy.
The V&A jewellery gallery and then a visit to Kensington Palace is a great day out for any jewellery lover!
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