Imperial Family Jewels

I thought that was the case, AP.  When I saw the regalia the stone in the sceptre was clear .

You are entirely correct, Robert.   Regards,  AP

I think Prince Orloff must be pretty desperate when he gave the diamonds hoping to come back to power...

I'm sorry to jump way off topic here, but does anyone know if Princess Ashraf Pahlavi replies to letters ? Last year, I sent her a letter which I mailed to both her New York and Paris resedencies, but I never received any response. Does anyone here knoe if she still replies to letters ?

Spasiba,

DA

Many Royals to not respond to random letters...I have that experience.

Interesting piece of info about Orloff: (In case of those who don’t know this history, I post this for all of you)

The rough form of the Orloff was 300 carats when found in India, with a polish slightly bluish green in colour. It was first used as the diamond eye of Vishnu’s idol (one of the Hindu gods), located in the innermost sanctuary of the temple of Sri Rangen, one of Southern India’s holiest shrines, before it was stolen in the 1700’s by a French deserter who just dug one eye from its socket. The stone’s travel ended when it was bought by a Russian count, Gregory Orloff, from a trader in Amsterdam in 1773 for Catherine the Great’s favor, who had it mounted in the Imperial Sceptre. In 1812, the Russians hid the Orloff in a priest’s tomb when Napoleon’s Grand Army was about to enter Moscow. Napoleon supposedly discovered the Orloff’s location and went to claim it, however.
When a soldier was about to touch it, a priest’s ghost was said to have appeared and pronounced a terrible curse upon the Army, Napoleon thus scampered away without the Orloff.

I'm sorry to jump way off topic here, but does anyone know if Princess Ashraf Pahlavi replies to letters ? Last year, I sent her a letter which I mailed to both her New York and Paris resedencies, but I never received any response. Does anyone here knoe if she still replies to letters ?

Spasiba,

DA

I don't know if this info may help you, but Empress Farah Diba DOES replies to  letters she receivs. At least, she replied to mine! I was very much hnored. She even remembered when she visited my country, and my father's town, Comodoro Rivadavia. She even told me that she had an album with the pics of  this travel to Argentina, but that when Revolution came, they've lost it. It remained at Saadabad Palace.

I suppose that her sister-in-law also replies to letters. The Pahlavies seems to be gentle with people who writes to them.

RealAnastasia.

It would seem so. However the European Royals are not aways helpful, especially the non-reigning ones.

I do not know, Eric,  I have always received responses from them. Suppose it depends on what you write to them about.  I gather they do not care for trivial time wasters and nonsense.

Yes and what you are asking. Jewellery may not be something they want to share information.

I am quite sure you are right, Eric. As there were and perhaps still are legal cases regarding htier jewelry and what they left Iran with.

Indeed. Some German Princely family told that they do not want to ackknowledge jewellery beause of possible taxation and chances of theft. In fact during the tiara exhibition in the V&A in 2002, pieces were only listed as "property of a German Princely Family". That is all the information they are willing to give.

I remember the V&A exhibition. It was  beauriful. There were some Romanov pieces if I am not mistaken. But of course, they had long since passed out of that family. Wartski in London had a special exhibition of Faberge and other Russian jewelers that also included many Romanov pieces.  I have yet to attend a special here at  our Fine Arts museum- Artic Luxury so not sure what they will have but Faberge, as well as Tiffany and Lalique are featured. Jewelry events such as these always draw a large attendance, do they not?

A photo taken by the Soviets displaying jewels of the Romanovs (including Crown regalia). Some very recognizable items including the nuptial crown and the tiara in the bottom center with the big diamond which Alexandra was seen in many times and the nuptial crown of all the Romanov brides. I think this was taken in preparation for their big firesale though only a portion were actually sold.

The miniature crowns seem to be from this set, made by Fabergé for the Paris Exhibition of 1900.

The were the actual crowns, not miniatures--though I love the Faberge photo! The items in the photo just appear smaller because of the size of the collection--to get the whole photo, or even 3/4 of it, the proportions make the items look smaller.