Windsor Jewelry We Love to Hate

Another one of her purchases was Sophie Torby's sapphire and diamond stomacher, which she bought for the Princess Royal - another jewel of which I am not inordinately fond.  

Actually I think it was originally a (obviously rather clumsy) necklace but Mary,Princess Royal wore it as a corsage fringe.....I would think George V and Mary bought the jewel from the cash strapped Michael and Countess Sophie to help them after the revolution....it seems that they loaned them £10k in the very early days after the revolution but refused the offer of the Countesses gems (estimated at £40k) as surety.The  Countess later left QM a magnificent ruby brooch as a memento.It was later worn on rare occasions by QEQM.

That's really interesting Ashdean.  I hadn't realised that it might have been possible to wear this jewel as a necklace, but perhaps this photo gives an idea that it might be possible?  It's quite a hefty piece and it looks totally wrong on the dress that Pcss Mary is wearing in this photo - it also makes QV's sapphire and diamond necklace look postively insignificant by comparison. 'Famous Jewelry Collectors' labels it alternately a 'devant de corsage' and a necklace, but I do think that the design of this piece is as you suggest - quite clumsy.  It is a shame that there is no colour image of this piece, as the chances are that the sapphires were quite fine?

Thanks for the info. I think Princess Mary's descendent's sold the jewels already.

What happen to the other Tory jewels ?

All dead, except Thatcher (barely hanging on in there), Mayor and of course the current incumbent Cameron.

R.I.

Thatcher sold the family jewels (copyright: a true Tory jewel, Harold Macmillan). What's left is the clinker. :-D

Thatcher never wore a tiara unlike Nancy Astor. 

Thatcher never wore a tiara unlike Nancy Astor. 

Lady Thatcher lived in a different Era to Nancy Astor....she was not (at that time a peeress) and she did not own 5 tiaras like Lady A

Thanks for the info. I think Princess Mary's descendent's sold the jewels already.

That has been discussed before - comprehensively.

Thatcher never wore a tiara unlike Nancy Astor. 

Lady Thatcher lived in a different Era to Nancy Astor....she was not (at that time a peeress) and she did not own 5 tiaras like Lady A

I think that brooches were Lady Thatcher's thing, weren't they Ashdean?  I seem to recall that there was a theft of her jewellery and that she seemed to have a lot of gem-set brooches?

Nancy Astor's principal tiara was a huge ugly thing, primarily designed as a recepticle for the Sancy.....another of my least favourite jewels (the tiara, not the Sancy!)

Thatcher never wore a tiara unlike Nancy Astor. 

Lady Thatcher lived in a different Era to Nancy Astor....she was not (at that time a peeress) and she did not own 5 tiaras like Lady A

I think that brooches were Lady Thatcher's thing, weren't they Ashdean?  I seem to recall that there was a theft of her jewellery and that she seemed to have a lot of gem-set brooches?

Nancy Astor's principal tiara was a huge ugly thing, primarily designed as a recepticle for the Sancy.....another of my least favourite jewels (the tiara, not the Sancy!)

Brooches were indeed Lady T's signature gem apart from pearls.Lady M develped a great & very individual style style during her premiership.
The Sancy tiara was indeed a cumbersome ugly ornament but I think it was not originally designed for the great Sancy but was later adapted to hold it...However I need to check to be sure...

That's really interesting Ashdean.  I hadn't realised that it might have been possible to wear this jewel as a necklace, but perhaps this photo gives an idea that it might be possible? 

Dudes,

 I wear the stomacher as a necklace "Rachel Zoe" style...jeans, killer white T-Shirt, leather jacket and 6-inch YSL TirbToo hooker heels! LOL!

TampaBay

Show us a photo, dudette!

Any photo of Countess Torby wearing this corsage ?

Show us a photo, dudette!

Tell me where I can get a cheap costume copy of that stomacher and I will! LOL!

TampaBay

Show us a photo, dudette!

Tell me where I can get a cheap costume copy of that stomacher and I will! LOL!

TampaBay

It's not likely to be cheap! Seriously there are some companies making replica pieces of historic jewels, but they are not cheap.....

However I too am intrigued to see how you would style this rather lumpy jewel, Tampa!

Goes well with evening gowns...

Well not all evening gowns. 

As I've said previously elsewhere, stomachers like these require a firm foundation on which to rest.  It is a documented fact that Queen Mary had her bodices reinforced with buckram to give a solid base for jewels of this type to rest on and display well, not to mention bear the weight of these substantial pieces of jewellery.

The above photo of Princess Mary shows just how much of an anachronism stomachers had become in the 20's, and how fashions of that era were really not suited for this type of jewellery, being too fluid and unstructured......