today on CNN they spoked about a house raid on the decendants of marie antoinette's lady-in-waiting. but i caught the tail end of the report. does anyone have information about this story
LONDON, England (Reuters) -- British police are trying to track down jewelry once owned by the 18th century French Queen Marie Antoinette, which burglars snatched from a west London house.
The victim of the burglary, a 65-year-old woman living in Notting Hill, was a descendant of the lady-in-waiting to whom the queen gave the jewels, including a diamond-encrusted locket and matching earrings, in the turmoil of the French Revolution.
Marie Antoinette, who gave the woman the jewels when she realized what danger she was in, was later imprisoned and beheaded by revolutionaries, as was her husband Louis XVl.
"The victim is devastated. She has lost her family heirlooms and feels her home has been violated," Peter Langdon of the London police told Reuters on Friday.
Police believe two youths snatched the jewels without realizing they had royal connections and may have discarded them as apparently worthless.
Police did not set a value on the jewels but said their owner described them as "priceless."
the true one was sold i think, it belonged to a parure (photo 1)
Photo 2 found in Corbis : These are the jewels given Empress Marie Louise by Napoleon in 1811, on the occasion of the birth of L'Aiglon, their son, which will be worn by Garbo in Madame Walewska. Shown here are a tiara, necklace, bracelets, earrings, sash clasp and breast pin. After being in the hands of Royalty for a century, the collection was purchased by New York collectors, and borrowed by Metro-Goldwyn Mayer for the picture. They were exhibited publicly for the first time in 1929 at the Barcelona Exposition. The most valuable "prop" in the history of the studio, the jewels were insured for $500,000 for the period they remain loaned to the studio.
Photo 3 found in Corbis : Acrostic bracelets belonging to the Empress Marie-Louise are displayed by French jewelry house Chaumet during their exhibition ebtitled "Napoléon in Love" at Place Vendôme. These gold chain bracelets are set with stones whose initials spell out the name Napoleon (Natrolite, Amethyst, Peridot, Opal, Lapis lazuli, Emerald, Onyx, Natrolite), his date of birth, August 15th 1769 (Agate, Opal, Uranium, Turquoise), Marie-Louise (Malachite, Amethyst, Ruby, Iris, Emerald), her date of birth December 12th, 1791 (Diamond, Emerald, Chrysoprase, Emerald, Malachite, Beryl, Ruby, Amethyst,) and the dates of their first meeting at Comoiegne on March 27, 1810 (Malachite, Amethyst, Ruby, Serpentine) and wedding in Paris in 1810 (Amethyst, Vermeil, Ruby, Iris, Laboradite).
Photo 4 found in Corbis : A necklace and earring set with nicolo, intaglios and embellished with pearls is displayed in the exhibition hosted by French jewelry house Chaumet entitled "Napoléon in Love" at Place Vendôme in Paris.
Photo 5 : Cameos in pearl, gold and Meditteranean coral. Chateâu de Malmaison et Bois-Préau -
Photo 6 : Detailing of a diadem in engraved coral from Barberia, belonging to Caroline Bonaparte
Welcome, Darky. Hope you like it here. The pictures and links you posted are great. I have to admit that I have never seen the parure you posted above (the small black and white picture).
I create this topic because I didn't find any on it ... I think she had one of the most beautiful collections of jewels :) .... no no I'm not chauvinistic
Pics 1 : This masterpieces xas crafted by Gabriel Lemonnier in 1855. It's the only French Queen's crown to have survived in its original condition ! (exposed to Le Louvre)
Pics 2 : The two large heart-shaped diamonds are two of the eighteen diamonds bequeathed by Cardinal Mazarin to Louis XIV (exposed to Le Louvre)
Pics 3 :Gold oval locket, the cover set with a sapphire cameo of a Muse with lyre, framed in diamonds, within a diamond and pearl laurel wreath. Inside there is a glazed compartment containing a photograph of the Empress Eugenie. The locket is attached by a gold double E (for Eugenie) cipher surmounted by the Napoleonic Imperial crown to a gold chain interspersed with globes. French, 1853-1870. (Albion Art Collection)
Pics 4 : Designed as a brooch composed of a cluster of three leaves pavé-set with diamonds, framed by larger stones representing berries, supporting three cascading strands of articulated links of similar foliate design, terminating in graduated fringes, mounted in silver and gold, length approximately 7 ¾ inches, indistinct maker's mark, assay marks, fringes detachable. With tooled red leather fitted box .
The present hair ornament was formerly one of the French Crown Jewels, designed by the Parisian firm of Bapst for the Empress Eugenie, wife of Napoleon III, during the Second Empire. In May of 1887, after the Fall of the Second Empire, the French Ministry of Finance ordered the Crown Jewels to be sold at auction. The elegant jewel was described as a “Pendant Hair Ornament” set with 477 brilliant diamonds weighing 66.85 metric carats. It is illustrated in the engravings of the catalogue of the Crown Jewels sale in 1887, as no. 8. According to the present owner, this jewel has been in his family collection since the early 1900’s.
The style of the brooch reflects the popular taste for jewels in the naturalistic style, which lasted throughout the nineteenth century. Artists and jewelers inspired by the Romantic movement spoke in a “language of flowers” through the use of plant and floral motifs which often times conveyed a secret message of love or affection. We might assume that the leaves in the Pendant Hair Ornament were intended by Maison Bapst to be currant leaves with surrounding clusters of currant berries; the currants relaying the message: “you please all”. The Pendant Hair Ornament is displayed adjacent to Bapst’s Currant Leaf Parure” in both the 1884 exhibition of the French Crown Jewel images, as well as the engravings in the 1887 sale catalogue
The Empress Eugenie, for whom the jewel was designed, was the epitome of style and elegance. An avid lover of jewelry and fashion, she was able to wear haute joaillerie to its greatest advantage by reviving the style for huge dresses which certainly acted as backdrops for certain pieces. The Diamond Hair Comb should be of great interest to both jewelry historians and collectors throughout the world. Jewels of Royal Provenance, and particularly those from the Sale of the French Crown Jewels in 1887 seldom appear on the market.
Pics 5 : Designed as a ribbon bow of openwork foliate design, supporting five pampilles and two cords of diamonds in three rows terminating in two large tassels, set throughout with rose and cushion-shaped stones, red leather fitted case stamped: Diamants de la Couronne ! This spectacular bow brooch was created in 1855 by the Parisian jeweller Kramer for Empress Eugenie as the central piece of a girdle. The bow was worn by Empress Eugenie together with a pair of similarly designed shoulder brooches connected by four chains of collet-set cushion-shaped diamonds. After the fall of the French Second Empire and some years of indecision, in May 1887 the French Republic government decided to sell the Crown Jewels. In order to facilitate the sale, many pieces were broken up into sub lots. The bow here presented was separated from the diamond belt and the matching shoulder knots and offered for sale as Lot Number 5, with an estimated value of 35000 French Francs. The catalogue entry in the 1887 catalogue stated the bow to be set with 2438 brilliants weighing 140.51ct. It sold for 42200 French Francs to a dealer listed as Schlessinger who bought it for Mrs William B Astor, the acknowledged leader of New York Society. The bow, soon to be known as 'Mrs Astor's diamond stomacher' became one of the most famous jewels of the gilded age and remained in the family until the early 1990s.
Pics 6 & 7 : Two Floral diamonds Brooch
Pics 8& 9 : The case containing the French Crown Jewels ... the majority was sold :( ... I don't know where they were exposed, maybe in the Louvre !? ... I don't know where they are nowadays !
To be continued :p ... if you have images, don't hesitate
Oh.
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