Alexander Palace Forum
Discussions about the Imperial Family and European Royalty => The Yussupovs => Topic started by: Miamia on June 29, 2004, 03:05:02 AM
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Unfortunately, the larger part of the Yusupov jewels were left behind in Russia, hidden by Felix in the palace the family held in Moscow (He describes this in "Lost Splendour," his recntly reissued autobiography.) The jewels were discovered when a servant revealed their whereabouts.
I hope this is not the case. In the old memoires (Avant l'exil, 1952) by Prince Felix it says quite clearly that the head of the servants did not reveal the hiding place of the treasure:
"Our personnel was recruited from all parts of the world: Arabs, Tartars and Kalmucks brightened the house with their multicolored costumes. They were all under the direction of Gregory Boujinsky. This faithful servant showed the extent of his devotion when the Bolsheviks came to plunder our property. He died under the most atrocious torture without revealing to his tormentors the hiding places in which our jewels and most precious possessions were concealed. Although the fact that these hiding places were discovered a few years later made his sacrifice vain, its value is in no way impaired, and I wish to pay a tribute in these pages to the heroic fidelity of Gregory Boujinsky who remained staunch, and preferred a horrible death to betraying his master's secrets."
A bolshevik era photograph of this cache (including two massive silver swans commissioned from Faberge) illustrated on page 125 of Alexander von SOlodkoff's "Masterpieces of the House of Faberge" (Abrams, 1984).
And not just two but three swans! The complete photograph show the third neck and head of a swan behind one of the bolshevick "agents" on the right corner of the picture on pages 322 and 323 in Geoffrey
Munn's great book Tiaras A History of Splendour, 2001.
Prince Felix's wife, Irina (Born Princess Irina of Russia) had fortunately sent her vast collection of jewelry to Paris to be reset by Chaumet when they were exiled to the Crimea after the murder of Rasputin. When they arrived in Paris, this collection is what sustained them for many years --- not the jewelry of Princess Zinaida, as far as I know. I have also heard that several key pieces remain in the hands of the only surviving Yusupov descendant.
These jewels were reset already on their honey moon in 1914. The great sunburst tiara by Chaumet, the wedding tiara of Princess Irina and the true lovers knot tiara with pearls can be seen among other tiaras in the same picture in Munn's book. What a great pity!
The whereabouts of these items are unknown still today.
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Ok Miamia, What's your point?
Is there anything you want to ask regading the jewelry?
Arturo Vega-Llausás
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I am currently a post graduate student and hope to compose a thesis on the fall of the Russian nobility in the aftermath of the 1917 revolution. I am looking for information on the Yusupov family and other noble families. Their position in society and their subsequent fall from privilege in 1917. What became of their property, prestige, and personal belongings. Primary source information would be most beneficial. Thanking you in advance. Seamus O Brien
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Lost Splendor is Felix Yussupov's amusing book about his life in Russia before, during, and a little after the revolution. He also wrote En Exile. Which I suppose deals with this life in exile. Just a guess. :-/
There are quite a few memoirs by other Russian aristocrats. I think you can find quite a few of them listed in the Books section of this site. I just finished a book a few weeks ago about a rich Jewish family in pre-revolutionary Russia and their time in exile. This woman had a really interesting life, I think her name was Tamara. :-/
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Do you know the name of the book??
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The title of the book is Tamara: Memoirs of St. Petersburg, Paris, Oxford and Byzantium. It's good but not great. I wouldn't recommend it for research. Well, maybe I would, it was a few weeks ago and I can't remember too much.
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Does Elizabeth Taylor still own Zenaida's beautiful pearl La Pelegrine?
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Annie, the following is from a review of Elizabeth Taylor's
book: "Elizabeth Taylor: My Love Affair With Jewelry."
"Another highlight is the tear-shaped La Peregrina Pearl, originally discovered by a slave in the Gulf of Panama in the 1500s and given to Spain's Prince Philip II who later offered it as a wedding present to Queen Mary Tudor of England.
Taylor had the pearl - another Burton gift - incorporated into a Cartier-designed ruby and diamond necklace.
According to her book, however, the pearl was almost lost during a stay in Caesars Palace casino in Las Vegas, when Taylor realised she had dropped it somewhere in the deep shag pile carpet of the full-floor suite she was sharing with Burton.
Terrified of telling the volatile Welsh actor what had happened, Taylor spent several hours nonchalantly strolling around the suite, feeling for the pearl with her toes.
"Then I saw one of our puppies chewing on what I thought was a bone and I did the longest slowest, slowest double-take in the world," she recalled.
"I just casually opened the puppy's mouth, and inside was the most perfect pearl in the world. It was, thank God, not even scratched." "
...she still has it.
Sunny
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Thank you for that story, Sunny! :)
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Are not "La Peregrina" and "La Pelegrina" two different jewels?
I need to check my Liz Taylor book but I think that she owns"La Peregina" which had been owned by Philip II of Spain who had given it to Mary Tudor upon their marriage in the 1550's.
She has a had a Renaissance style necklace made which comprises rubies, diamonds and pearls and from which is suspended this famous pearl, still with its antique mount.
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There were two pearls, both confusingly called "La Pelegrina" or Peregrina. The one which was Liz Taylor's dog chew was the one belonging to Philip of Spain. I will ask Nick to answer about the fate of the Yussupov Jewel.
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In fact they were two different pearls: "La Peregrina" and "La Pelegrina". That from the Yusupov collection was "La Pelegrina", Felix Yusupov simply mistook the name. La Pelegrina belonged to King Felipe IV and he gave it to her daughter Maria Teresa when she married Louis XIV in 1660. However, there is no document to confirm that this pearl was among the French royal jewels. The pearl appeared again in 1826 in the Yusupov collection. The pearl was exhibited in London in 1935 and was sold in 1953 to an european collector through the jeweller Jean Lombard, of Genevre. In may 1987 it was sold in auction in Christies (of Genevre). It reached the sum of 682.000 Swiss francs, more or less 380.000 $.
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The real Peregrina was suposedly found in Panama, wieghed 58 quil. and a half, and was adquired in 1579 by the King Felipe II. In those times it was also called La Margarita (Daisy), La huérfana ( Orphan) and La Sola (Unique).
The pearl belonged to spanish crown jewells until the french napoleonic troops invaded the coundry and looted them.
Jose I Bonaparte should took it , for when he returned to France in the 1840s after being living in the U.S.A he had the pearl with him in 1844. He gave to pearl to the ex queen Hortense of Holland for she to support her son´s(the future Napoleon III) political activities in France.
He sold the pearl around 1848 to the then marquis of Abercorn.
In 1914 the Peregrina was offered by the jewellers R.G. Hennel and Sons to the King Alfonso XIII, but he could not afford the high price and was bought by the billionaire(?) Judge Geary, who would sell it in 1917 to Henry Huntingdon.
In January the 23th of 1968, the Parke Bennet Gallery of New York sold the pearl in auction (lot 129). It was then that Richard Burton bought it for 37.000$ as a present for Liz Taylor´s 37 birthday.
At this point came the discussion, for the day after the auction the Duke of Alba, then master of the household of the Queen Ena of Spain, said that the pearl sold was not the Peregrina, since the Peregrina was still in the queen´s collection.
The confussion came because Alfonso XIII gave Ena in 1906(for their wedding) a brooch with a pearl that she thought was the Peregrina. The brooch was realized by the jewellery Ansorena. The wife of the jeweller Ansorena testified that her husband knew exatcly which jewells the Queen owned and that he had never seen the Peregrina, and there was never a pearl by that name in the Queen´s collection.
So it´s most likely that the real pearl, in view of the documents and testimonies is that of Liz Taylor.
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Very interesting information, and I'm sorry for the misinformation. I got it, and the two pics, from a website I once found on a google search but cannot find the link to now. It also said that in the picture Zenaida is wearing 2 famous pearls, one right side up and one upside down on her tiara.
So Ena got a fake one?
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Well, it was not a fake in the true meaning of that word. It´s simply that her husband bought the brooch for her and she spent her life thinking that it was the Peregrina. Ena´s pearl was also wonderful but had not the historical value of Liz´s pearl. It sounds quite ironic, isn´t it?
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Could it be someone tricked the young king (he was only 20) into buying something they knew wasn't what it was supposed to be?
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Okay now I'm totally confused ??? ??? ???
This says the famous Spanish pearl got into the Yussupov family by unknown means and that they still own it today?
So- which one is it Liz has, what happened to Zenaida's, what happened to Ena's? Anybody? ???
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Hello Annie, the Yusupov Pelegrina was also Spanish, see my earlier posts :)
Ena´s brooch was destroyed and the jewells used for new pieces. That was a common practice for Ena and her jewells have rarely come to this day in its original/initial shape.
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May I please ask the question as to which pearl was the one that had been owned by Mary Tudor, Queen of England, wife of Phillip II of Spain?
I thought that it was "La Peregrina", the pearl that now belongs to Elizabeth Taylor and which is part of her ruby, pearl and diamond necklace..........................
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Hello Martyn,
The pearl bought by Felipe II (or Phillip II) was La Peregrina, belonging today to Elizabeth Taylor.
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Thank you Antonio. That clears that up nicely.
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I'm not sure whether this correct but I vaguely recall that the Yussupovs bought some of the French Crown Jewels when they were publicly auctioned in the 1880's. Does anyone know if this is the case?
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Someone asked about "memoirs" of Russian nobility. There are lots of them, like "Souvenirs d'un monde englouti" written by Countess Kleinmichel, the memoirs of Baroness Sophie Buxhoevden lady in waiting to the Empress Aleksandra Feodorovna, the recent memoirs of Count Mijail Ignatiev, known in the USA as Michael Ignatieff the journalist of the New York Times, The memoirs of "Sandro" Grand Duke Aleksandr Mijailovich published during the 1930's, and many others.
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Does anyone know the present whereabouts of the Youssupov black pearls. They once belonged to Catherine the Great. The pearls, this particular rope at least were said to have been the most perfect rope of matched black pearls in the world. They entered the family's collection by way of the Engelhardt's, the nieces of Grigory Potemkin, one of whom married a Youssupov. I know through Christopher Dobson's and Greg King's biographies that Felix sold it through Cartier to one of the Goelets. Someone told me it later was acquired by a lady named Dina Dyer. Where are they now.
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What has happened to the Youssupov's Lovers Knot Tiara?
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I don't think that anyone knows what has become of the Lovers Knot tiara. Presumably, the Soviets either sold it privately or broke it up for the stones; either way, it hasn't been seen since it was discovered by the Soviets.
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Were the Youssupov black pearls those given to Mary, Queen of Scots, by Catherine de'Medici on the occasion of the former's marriage to the latter's son? If so, I believe they are those which were long coveted - and subsequently confiscated - by Elizabeth I of England. I should very much appreciate information about them , and how they came into the possession of Catherine II and thence to the Youssupovs.
Thank you,
Katherine Alexandra M. Hines
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I may be wrong but I am pretty sure that Catherine de Medici's pearls were white and not black. They were given to Mary Stuart by Catherine as a wedding gift and returned to Scotland with Mary.
After Mary's capture and incarceration at Lochleven, she managed to escape but sadly was obliged to leave behind some of her jewellery; the famous Medici pearls were offered for sale by the Regent, the Earl of Moray (Mary's detested half brother); Catherine had been extremely keen to recover them but discovered that Elizabeth I had already bought them. It is alleged that some of these pearls form part of the English Crown jewels, being set in one of the crowns (I think that it is the Imperial State Crown....)
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The Youssoupoff black pearls were originally the property of Prince Gregory Potemkin, the famous lover of Catherine the Great.After his death his heirs divided his vast estate which included some historic gems. Tatiana vassilievna,Zenaidas great grandmother seems to have inherited amongst other things the black pearl called the Azra and a pink diamond the "Tete Du Belier" or "RAMS HEAD" a shocking pink stone.All these gems plus the wonderful items Tatiana later bought pased down to her great grandaughter Zenaida and seemed to have been the principal items salvaged by the family and taken into exile. The subsuquent story of their sale are recounted in Hans Nadelhoffers wonderful book Cartier; published originally in 1984 and reprinted several times scince.The black pearls were bought by a Rhode Island senators wife Mrs Peter Goelet Gerry who was the widow of the Vanderbilt who built Biltmore in North Carolina.The
pelegrina and Azra were still in zenaidas ownership when she died.
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I can't find the thread where it was mentioned: a photo of Irinas sunburst tiara being examined after it was found hidden in the StPetersburg palace by the bolshevics, and the confusion of a photo wearing what looks like the same tiara in the 1920s.
I think I can solve this riddle. I believe the photos weren't taken in the 1920s at all, but BEFORE the revolution, sometime between 1914 and 1916.
One has to remember Irina was a woman on the cutting edge of fashion with the means to indulge it. The slimline styles we often assume as roaring twenties were already established by 1914. See this image for example:
http://www.fulcrumgallery.com/print_37723.aspx
You'll also see that Irinas hair isn't shingled, but merely gathered at the back, which is typical of the prewar period.
The wealthy women of StPetersburg were always right at the edge of style, taking up the tango, etc. I remember one memoir saying that tiaras were out of fashion shortly after 1900...hence the craze for aigrettes - which again, one sometimes thinks of as being purely 1920s. Wrong! There's a Pre Rev photo book which has a pic of female aristocrats in the street in 1916, and they look very modern and chic, and I've seen on of Irina visiting Archangelskoi around that time, and looking very slimline.
I hope this solves the puzzle!
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The complete photograph show the third neck and head of a swan behind one of the bolshevick "agents" on the right corner of the picture on pages 322 and 323 in Geoffrey
Munn's great book Tiaras A History of Splendour, 2001.
I am currently in possession of this book (great book indeed). If anyone is interested, I can post a scan of this photograph.
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PLEASE... DO SO
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I don't think that anyone knows what has become of the Lovers Knot tiara. Presumably, the Soviets either sold it privately or broke it up for the stones; either way, it hasn't been seen since it was discovered by the Soviets.
There is a site with great examples of the jewels out there including the Lovers Knot tiara:
http://www.royal-magazin.de/russia.htm
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Many of the pieces had been already dismantled by Felix before they were hidden and the loose stones taken South and then aboard. I have read somewhere- Serge Obolensky's "One man in his Time" I think- that Felix had these packets of loose diamonds stolen while in London.Felix did try to recover the gems from Moscow. Galina von Meck a neice of Tchiakovsky and daughter of a rail magnate wrote in her wonderful memoir published here in the 1960's "As I remember Them" of being enlisted in an abortive attempt. In later "hard up" years Felix must have kicked himself he hadn't taken more items south or other valuebals such as the third Rembrandt from the collection. Indeed that the foreign investments had not been all liquidated in 1914.....still as Tatiana Metternich said their financial phlight was far, far superior to almost all of the other emigree's...........
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(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v280/Luke03/IrinaYoussoupov.jpg)
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Thats an amazing photo :)! Although it does annoy me to think that was the property of the Romanovs not those horrible bolsheviks. >:( ;)
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I may be wrong but I am pretty sure that Catherine de Medici's pearls were white and not black. They were given to Mary Stuart by Catherine as a wedding gift and returned to Scotland with Mary.
After Mary's capture and incarceration at Lochleven, she managed to escape but sadly was obliged to leave behind some of her jewellery; the famous Medici pearls were offered for sale by the Regent, the Earl of Moray (Mary's detested half brother); Catherine had been extremely keen to recover them but discovered that Elizabeth I had already bought them. It is alleged that some of these pearls form part of the English Crown jewels, being set in one of the crowns (I think that it is the Imperial State Crown....)
the Yusupovs did indeed own a string of black pearls. i don't know about the supposed Catherine de Medici connection (i think someone may be confused), but the Yusupov's black pearls had been the property of Catherine II the Great (Ekaterina II).
see one of my earlier posts in this thread (i think it may be just a few posts above this one....)
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The picture of the Azra necklace, the Pelegrina and Zenaida's pearl earrings is from the catalogue of the Russian Exhibition held in Belgrave Square in London in 1935 in honour of the silver jubilee of George V & Queen Mary (who were both lenders and visitors).The other gems were lent from a variety of sources. The fringe tiara above was from the collection of Princess Elizabeth of Greece, Countess Toerring ( elder sister of Princess Marina,Duchess of Kent). The great diadem to the side was the much discussed sapphire creation made by Cartier in 1909 for Grand Duchess Vladimir & sold by her heirs to Marie of Romania. In the early 1950's her youngest daughter Ileana sold it in the USA and it was dismantled. The detachable centre sapphire was 137 carats. Apart from the pearls listed as the property of Princess Zenaida the Youssoupoff family had no other items of jewelry in the exhibition.
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On November 16th an Asian private buyer paid just over 2.5 million dollars for the Regente pearl,a new world record, the previous for a single pearl being that when the Pelegrina was sold in May 1987 also by Christies,Geneva.
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Hey, did Zenaida actually lend the the Azra necklace, the Pelegrina and pearl earrings for the exhibition? or where they no longer owned by her by that time? :)
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Hey, did Zenaida actually lend the the Azra necklace, the Pelegrina and pearl earrings for the exhibition? or where they no longer owned by her by that time? :)
Yes,According to the catalogue, Zenaida lent the 3 items in 1935.By then the huge damages from MGM meant that they could be redeemed from pawn.Felix inherited them in 1939 and in his 2nd volume of memoirs mentions the trouble he had when during the occupation of Paris the nazi's sized the National Westminster bank where they were lodged in a safe deposit box. Lydia,Lady Deterding,russian wife of a founder of Shell Oil bought the Azra necklace (which had come to the Y's from Potemkin) after WW2. She lost the Azra at a party given in Paris for Princess Margaret.It was never found but other parts of the necklace plus the Polar star diamond (which she had bought from Cartier) were in the sale held in 1981 by Christies in Geneva after her death.By 1952 Felix in need of cash to finance the (ultimately successful) court case for the return of Keriolet sold the Pelegrina to the jeweller Jean Lombard of Geneva.The earrings were no doubt those worn by Irina in later life in various photographs.It would be interesting to know the fate of the pink pearl necklace with ruby clasp that had also come from Potemkin/Catherine II which Felix salvaged and eventually was bought ( with so many other items)by Cartier.Hans Nadelhoffer's "Cartier" Thames & Hudson,originally published in 1984 tells the story of the disposal of the salvaged Youssoupoff gems in some detail. The author was in contact with Felix's daughter Countess Nicholas Sheremetev (who died in Greece in 1983)at one stage & his "second mother" Countess Rosario Zoubova (who lived in Geneva & founded a museum there)was a intimate of the family for many years.
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Very interesting! thank you! :)
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I heard the story of when Felix and Irina went to america and her jewels were confiscated i want to know what happened to the jewels, did america keep them or were they retured to russia and why did american customs confiscate them in the first palce when they knew that there might have been a chance that by returing the jewels to russia they might be sold off.
Thanks in advance
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I read they got the jewels back when they left America! :)
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Have u got anymore information on this? i mean what was the point in taking the jewels then returing them
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I don't recall but it is mentioned in Greg Kings Rasputin. I can't remember why the confiscated the valuables and then returned them?
Lancashirelad is bound to know!!
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The gems were impounded till import duty was paid.Felix raised enough cash to free at least part of these including the Catherine the Great Black pearl necklace,29 diamond necklace and the collection of statues from his fathers study( ruby Buddha,sapphire Venus,cellini statuette).An exhibition was held in the New York city atelier of designer Elsie de Wolfe,Lady Mendl but was not a great success.Many of the items did end up in the USA via other routes ( the pearl necklace was succesfully sold by Cartier).Preumably the other items were released by customs when the couple left the USA.Hope this is of help :)
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Thanks Andre!! :)
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So that explains it! I was wondering why they had to live so poorly in NYC, taking handouts from Felix's old gypsy friend who'd become a night club singer bringing them leftovers from tables at night! They had to pay money to free them. At least they got them back, I was afraid they lost them. I didn't know the Catherine the Great black pearls were in there, that was Zenaida's pride and joy.
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lancashireladandre,
I strongly suggest you write a book on Yussupovs. I shall buy the first copy. Your knowledge of the Yussupov family history never fails to amaze me!!
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So that explains it! I was wondering why they had to live so poorly in NYC, taking handouts from Felix's old gypsy friend who'd become a night club singer bringing them leftovers from tables at night! They had to pay money to free them. At least they got them back, I was afraid they lost them. I didn't know the Catherine the Great black pearls were in there, that was Zenaida's pride and joy.
The black pearls were eventually sold for a rumored $300,000 by Cartier to Mrs Peter Goelet Gerry,wife of a senator from Rhode Island and formerly widow of the vanderbilt who had created Biltmore in North Carolina.
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lancashireladandre,
I strongly suggest you write a book on Yussupovs. I shall buy the first copy. Your knowledge of the Yussupov family history never fails to amaze me!!
Dear Prince, you flatter me !!!!.20 years or so ago I did think of writing a biography of Zenaida,encouraged by several friends including Hans Nadelhoffer, the Christies expert who knew so much about the Youssoupoff gems.Lots of things got in the way but maybe in the future....Only another 20 years to retirement !!!!then I'll have plenty of time ..................... :D
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When the black pearls were sold did the money go to felix and irina?
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When the black pearls were sold did the money go to felix and irina?
When Cartier bought the pearls, yes.They had a long and at times fraught relationship with Felix for well over a decade till about 1934.....
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Were there two different jewels named the "Polar Star"? I have read about a 40 carat pale ruby owned by the Imperial Family and a large diamond by the Yusupov family, both with the same name.
Thanks!
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Sites with some info and photos of the Youssupov jewelry:
http://www.royal-magazin.de/russia/jussupov/jussupov-emerald-tiara.htm
http://www.royal-magazin.de/russia/jussupov/irina-romanov-wedding-tiara.htm
http://www.royal-magazin.de/russia/jussupov/jussupov-ruby.htm
http://www.royal-magazin.de/russia/jussupov/youssoupoff.htm
http://www.royal-magazin.de/russia/jussupov/jussupow-sapphire-tiara.htm
http://www.royal-magazin.de/russia/jussupov/pelegrina-jussupov.htm
http://www.royal-magazin.de/russia/jussupov/chaumet-ruby-bowknot.htm
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I am bumping this thread up as it is being referenced in other posts.
TampaBay
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Thank you very much TB! Yes, this is what I quoted from and was referred to. I have to admit after reading all 5 pages of this I will have to reread it again as it is very confusing when you get into both pearls named and misnamed back and forth. However if the Pearl given by Phillip II to Mary Tudor is the one that came down to Elizabeth Taylor then the Pearl worn by Princess Youssupov is the one given by Phillip the IV to the wife of Louis XIV and it appears again in 1826 as quoted by Royal Magazine which names it the Pelegrina! See above links from Royal Magazine.
The pearl appeared again in 1826 in the Yusupov (= Youssoupov) collection.
Princess Tatiana Youssoupov (1769-1841) who owned it since 1826 was the niece to Potemkin, the favourite of Catherine II and had a passionate taste for jewellery and started a collection which soon became famous.
Further in this quote La Pelegrina belonged to King Philip IV and he gave it to his daughter Maria Teresa when she married Louis XIV of France in 1660. However, there is no document to confirm that this pearl was among the French royal jewels.
Interestingly though although there is no document to confirm ....isn't that just a way of saying We don't know? As often stated I cannot confirm this or that! It is last seen with Maria Teresa of France and next seen with Princess Tatiana. Quite a few years.....
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I have been doing more research on the Pelegrinal...Maybe this is part of the answer:
On January 13, 1680, the Bride-Queen at last entered Madrid. Madame la Mothe, whose keen French eyes saw everything and whose sharp French pen chronicled it, has left a minute account of the ceremony. She says There is one occasion upon which the Pelegrina served to deck a bride so
young and fair that it deserves more than a passing notice. The bride was Marie Louise d'Orleans, the first wife of Charles II.
On January 13, 1680, the Bride-Queen at last entered Madrid. Madame la Mothe, whose keen French eyes saw everything and whose sharp French pen chronicled it, has left a minute account of the ceremony. She says:"The Queen rode upon a curious Andalusian horse which the Marquis de Villa Magna, her first gentleman-usher, led by the rein. Her clothes were so richly embroidered that one could see no stuff; she wore a hat trimmed with a plume of feathers and the pearl called the Pelegrina which is as big as a small pear and of inestimable value, her hair hung loose upon her shoulders, and upon her forehead. Her neck was a little bare and she wore a small farthingale; she had upon her finger the large diamond of the king's, which is pretended to be the finest in Europe. But the Queen's pretty looks showed brighter than all her sparkling jewels."
Later: During the first years of his reign Philip V. had to fight for his throne, nor was he invariably successful. At one time he was so hard-pressed by his rival, the Archduke Charles, that he had almost to seek rufuge in France. By the urgent entreaty of his ministers the King and Queen did not actually quit the soil of Spain, but the Pelegrina did do so. The invaluable pearl, along with the rest of the crown jewels, was entrusted to a French valet named Susa, who crossed over the frontier into France and they think brought it back to Spain although this is the last mention of it in 1707.
http://www.jjkent.com/articles/la-pelegrina-historical-account.htm
another site that mentions the pearl: in additon to being in Spain, has also been in France as a wedding gift from King Philip IV to his daughter Maria Theresa when marrying Louis XIV in 1660. Then it travelled to India and to Russia during the 18th century when sold to Princess Youssoupoff (1769-1841) who wore it as a single earring and had it passed down through the generations. It was sold at Christie's in 1987 for $463,800.
India?????
http://www.karipearls.com/famous-pearls.html
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To make it all more confusing there is a THIRD Pelegrina..today worn by Queen Sofia of Spain..In 1969 the then owner Queen Victoria Eugenie disputed the authenticity of Elizabeth Taylors recently bought Pearl saying HER Pearl was the true PELEGRINA !!!
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Hello,
Here is larger picture of a crown in rock crystal Irina:
http://i273.photobucket.com/albums/jj213/Alexandre64_2007/Romanov%20Jewel/untitled4pz11.jpg
And a set of jewelry sold by Felix:
http://i273.photobucket.com/albums/jj213/Alexandre64_2007/Romanov%20Jewel/Escanear00311.jpg
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Alexandre64,
When was this set of jewelry sold by Felix?. There was a controversy about the Sunburst tiara which is shown in the picture, due to a picture taken by the time the Family jewells were found hidden inside the Moika palace and I believe the Sunbusrt tiara was among the jewells found by the bolsheviks...
Thank you.
Arturo Vega-Llausás
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It is true that his may be the jewels of the Moika écouvert, But he reportedly photographed together?
It is also possible that this photo was taken in 1914 when the marriage of Felix and Irina?
Alex.
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i have a book called royal jewels its about english jewellry throught royal generations and there is a picture of the youssupov jewellry in it which is being examined by the blosheicks it includes irian's wedding tirara
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i have a book called royal jewels its about english jewellry throught royal generations and there is a picture of the youssupov jewellry in it which is being examined by the blosheicks it includes irian's wedding tirara
The oft reproduced picture shows the 13 diadems,255 brooches,28 emerald necklaces(plus many others) and countless other objects (including the Regente pearl)discovered by the Bolsheviks in 1925 in the Moscow house
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yes ithink that is the same picture :-\ its a shame that the bloshevicks got hold of it
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Document on the sale of "Peregrina", including a letter Irina:
(http://i273.photobucket.com/albums/jj213/Alexandre64_2007/Youssoupov/735941.jpg)
Letter of Irina:
(http://i273.photobucket.com/albums/jj213/Alexandre64_2007/Youssoupov/73594_d1.jpg)
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The Pelegrina was not sold till 1952 and then to the jeweller Jean Lombard of Geneva
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Is this the the pearl purchase for "La La" Liz Taylor?
TampaBay
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No...the Taylor pearl is LA PEREGRINA...this confusion has been much discussed on this thread...
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Faced with bodice of the Empress Eugenie, with the pearl "The Regent":
(http://i273.photobucket.com/albums/jj213/Alexandre64_2007/Youssoupov/2146442270031751182ferzxb91.jpg)
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Owners of the Youssupov necklace of 42 black pearls:
Felix Youssupov paod $12,000 duty to redeem them from customs, New York Times , Dec 27, 1923. He had tried to get them accepted at little or no duty as "antiques", but Customs would not allow it because they were unstrung! They were sold, through Cartier, to Mathilda Townsend Gerry, first wife pf Sen. Peter Goelet Gerry, New York Times, Jan 25, 1924, for $400,000. Note not Gerry's second wife, widow of George vanderbilt. On one occasion, at a dinner, a catty acquaintance commented that they looked like black grapes; Mrs. Gerry replied "You mean sour grapes."
She later married Sumner Welles, of FDR's administration, who commented that they looked like "decayed oysters." (Mathilde Welles bio notes, ca. 1945). She sold the pearls (date unknown). Subsequent owners , per her bio notes, were an unnamed woman who died shortly thereafter; Mrs. Hamilton Rice, and Mrs. Boise Thompson, mother of Tony Biddle.
Anyone know their current ownership?
I am a member and sort of the historian of the Townsend familly at the Cosmos Club in Washington, located in the old Townsend mansion.
Jack
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Thanks for the information. My late friend Hans Nadelhoffer told me that the necklace was of 30 black pearls weighing 937 grains of which the central pearl was 73 grains.It was sold in 1924 by Cartier for $400,000.The Prince also deposited a second black pearl necklace of some 31 smaller pearls with Cartier for sale.
Wasn't Matilda the owner of a famous sapphire necklace which her kinswoman Thora McElroy inherited?Owners of the Youssupov necklace of 42 black pearls:
Felix Youssupov paod $12,000 duty to redeem them from customs, New York Times , Dec 27, 1923. He had tried to get them accepted at little or no duty as "antiques", but Customs would not allow it because they were unstrung! They were sold, through Cartier, to Mathilda Townsend Gerry, first wife pf Sen. Peter Goelet Gerry, New York Times, Jan 25, 1924, for $400,000. Note not Gerry's second wife, widow of George vanderbilt. On one occasion, at a dinner, a catty acquaintance commented that they looked like black grapes; Mrs. Gerry replied "You mean sour grapes."
She later married Sumner Welles, of FDR's administration, who commented that they looked like "decayed oysters." (Mathilde Welles bio notes, ca. 1945). She sold the pearls (date unknown). Subsequent owners , per her bio notes, were an unnamed woman who died shortly thereafter; Mrs. Hamilton Rice, and Mrs. Boise Thompson, mother of Tony Biddle.
Anyone know their current ownership?
I am a member and sort of the historian of the Townsend familly at the Cosmos Club in Washington, located in the old Townsend mansion.
Jack
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List of jewelry that Felix has to sell his lawyer:
-a pair of earrings decks brightest around 8 carats for the sum of twenty five thousand francs
-forming a bracelet-key gold, colored stones
-an oval-gold mounted roses
-a lot of frames mounted in gold, silver for the sum of fifteen thousand francs
-a ring-a brilliant four-carat emerald and a half size
-a pair of earrings with pearls that was committed in Sutton for the sum of 1100 pounds sterling and that I received from you the sum of 25 000 books and more
-a pair of earrings old gold, enamel and stone
a dagger-old with turquoise
-One emerald pendant surrounded by diamonds with my stamps
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there are a lot of extremely interesting pic of Yusupovs jewels, but u talk about Pelegrina pearl.
Does anybody know about RUBY "BENGAL FLAME", DIAMONDS "THE HEAD OF A RAM", "SULTAN OF MAROCCO"?
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The pink Rams head diamond was bought by the Singer sewing machine heiress and socialite Daisy Fellowes who had it reset as a ring which was later stolen from her.
The Sultan of Morroco diamond was sold in the USA. It has been resold several times scince.
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Subsequent owners , per her bio notes, were an unnamed woman who died shortly thereafter; Mrs. Hamilton Rice....
I wonder if that is the same Mrs Hamilton Rice aka Eleanor Elkins Widener who, whilst on the Titanic, possessed a string of pearls which under her insurance policy she was forbidden to let out of her sight!!
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there are a lot of extremely interesting pic of Yusupovs jewels, but u talk about Pelegrina pearl.
Does anybody know about RUBY "BENGAL FLAME", DIAMONDS "THE HEAD OF A RAM", "SULTAN OF MAROCCO"?
The Sultan of Morocco is a 35.27 carat blueish-grey diamond.Considered the 4th largest blue diamond in the world (the next biggest is only a fraction of a carat larger).
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Re the diamond known as "The Sultan of Morocco" : The site "famousdiamonds.tripod.com" shows a photograph of this stone under "Famous, Historic and Notable Diamonds." The site seems to have little information on it, historically. It says that " In 1972 it was sold to a private American collector." This site was allegedly last updated December 24th, 2008, but this MAY refer to added stones and NOT the updating of each individual diamond, etc. AP
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thank you
Does anybody has a picture of famous diamond POLAR STAR which was posessed by Tatiana Yusupova?
i have some info about ita fate in XIX century.
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thank you
Does anybody has a picture of famous diamond POLAR STAR which was posessed by Tatiana Yusupova?
i have some info about ita fate in XIX century.
The diamond was illustrated (with an accompanying article by my late friend Hans Nadelhoffer) in the Christies Review for 1981.Try contacting Christies (via their website? ) for details.
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In 1858 prince Nicolas junior lived in Paris and bought a lot of things, knick-nacks for his Moika palace and for his own. He loved precious stones very much, I heard a lot about jewels brought from some auction of 1857-58 (?). Do u know anything about that event?
Then Nicolas bought a diadema of greece princess with a big diamond-solitaire of 35 carat weight. Maybe somebody has a pic of that jewel? i failed to find it(
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In 1858 prince Nicolas junior lived in Paris and bought a lot of things, knick-nacks for his Moika palace and for his own. He loved precious stones very much, I heard a lot about jewels brought from some auction of 1857-58 (?). Do u know anything about that event?
Then Nicolas bought a diadema of greece princess with a big diamond-solitaire of 35 carat weight. Maybe somebody has a pic of that jewel? i failed to find it(
This diamond may have been the Sultan of Morrocco...
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Alexandre64Faced with bodice of the Empress Eugenie, with the pearl "The Regent":
http://i273.photobucket.com/albums/jj213/Alexandre64_2007/Youssoupov/2146442270031751182ferzxb91.jpg (http://i273.photobucket.com/albums/jj213/Alexandre64_2007/Youssoupov/2146442270031751182ferzxb91.jpg)
Here is information on the pearl "Napoleon" and not "Regent", and on the front of the blouse, it was done by the jeweler Lemonnier in 1859 for the marriage of Napoleon III and Eugénie.
Presented for sale in 1887 as No. 42 under the name wrong pearl "the Regent", estimated 223.000Francs, sold 176.000Francs a Mr. Rossel
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They had amazing jewels, is sad that many of them got lost
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On October 21st in New York city Christie's will sell the 4 1/4 inch high blue Venus sapphire statue brought out of Russia in 1919 by Felix.
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Annetta,
I found this website about the Polar Star which has a picture of it:
http://www.indianetzone.com/6/pole_star.htm (http://www.indianetzone.com/6/pole_star.htm)
BobG
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Unfortunately, the pictures are only in black and white in Ferrand's book. Sorry.
Is a pity, but they look incredible anyway, thank you for post all this beautiful things!!!
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Are her earrings black pearls?
They look like it don't they? At this date they would be natural pearls which would make them a significant piece of jewellery in themselves. These days with the reasonably easy availability of good quality cultured pearls (there's whole shops dedicated to them in Sydney and Perth in Australia) it's easy to forget how rare a good unblemished pearl was right up to the early 20th century. A good pearl was cosidered a fine gift for Royalty and all the pearls Alexandra wore were quite outstanding in their way...so it wouldn't do for the Yussupov's not to match or better the Romanovs in this department :)
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I knew I'd seen this tiara before. It was made by Chaumet in Paris in 1914 for Princess Irene Yussupov with ecus comptes design motif.
(http://i48.tinypic.com/i70qr4.jpg)
I'd swear though that I've seen the real thing somewhere illustrated in a book (frustrated)
Also some other known jewllery purchases of the Yussupov's in Paris are:
1856 - Turquoise and diamond necklace
1857 - The "Acerado Diamond" purchased from Mellier for 82,300 franks
1857 - Emerald scarab egyptian bracelet 1,125 franks from Mellier
1857 - Necklace and bodice front for 70,000 franks from Mellier (bought for Princess Tatiana) decorated with 81 emeralds and several hundred diamonds
1857 - Greek diadem in diamonds
1857 - Pearl and diamond necklace
1858 - Large 25 carat ruby "Bengal fire"
1858 - Gold brooch set with emeralds, rubies and diamonds
1867 - a turquoise and diamond set
1887 - Three sapphire briolettes with diamond calottes and topped by a brilliant costing 26,000 franks
1887 - the year the French crown jewels were sold and they bought the Regent Pearl or the Napoleon Pearl an egg shaped pearl of 337 grains set on a diadem belonging to the Empress Marie Louise. This was placed into a bodice ornament in 1853 and was purchased by the Princess for 176,000 franks.
1894 - Diamond star diadem from Boucheron
1894 - Bodice front with six knots of brilliants for hanging three large pear brilliants and a large steel brilliant for 19,218 franks from Bucheron
When their jewellery was catalogued in 1888 caskets of jewels were classified by type of object and included 6 diadems, 15 necklaces and sets, 11 pairs of earrings, 49 brooches, clasps, devigne or pins, 23 bracelets, 5 medallions, 7 solitares all made at Mellerio dits Meller in Paris.
La Regent below - in 2005 it sold for 1.6 million pounds:
(http://i50.tinypic.com/ibkh9s.jpg)
In 1914 when Prince Felix Yussupov got married he ordered an rock crystal and diamond tiara from Cartier for the wedding which is still well known. Some old jewellery was also remodelled by Chaumet and included a headband in with diamonds and rubies and a narrow headband open worked in diamonds with a quadrangular emerald in the centre. He also had a "rising sun" egret with the "Polar Star" diamond jointed with other diamonds. A large sapphire and diamond chain and another chain in rubies and diamonds and a jewellery set in emeralds based on Marie Antoinette's "Queen's necklace" with a 14 carat emerald centerpiece. A bodice front of diamonds and rubies was also made and a dog collar in diamonds and pearls.
Below is a sketch of one the pieces made by Chaumet for Irene and Felix in 1914
(http://i50.tinypic.com/fw2hyh.jpg)
The Yussupov's really knew how to spend at the jewelers!
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Are her earrings black pearls?
They look like it don't they? At this date they would be natural pearls which would make them a significant piece of jewellery in themselves. These days with the reasonably easy availability of good quality cultured pearls (there's whole shops dedicated to them in Sydney and Perth in Australia) it's easy to forget how rare a good unblemished pearl was right up to the early 20th century. A good pearl was cosidered a fine gift for Royalty and all the pearls Alexandra wore were quite outstanding in their way...so it wouldn't do for the Yussupov's not to match or better the Romanovs in this department :)
The triangular emerald brooch is seen in the much documented photo from 1925 of the Bolshevks displaying the Youssoupoff hoarde...also in evidence is the greek gey diadem minus its centre section (no doubt one of the large stones taken into exile by the family).
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And La Perigrina (owned by Elizabeth Taylor now)
The Peregrina owned by Elizabeth Taylor is NOT the Youssoupoff pearl...this subject has been much discussed!!!!
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I hadn't thought about the black pearls...although now that you mention it, it could be possible. There isn't really description except to say 'pearls'.
The Peregrina owned by Elizabeth Taylor is NOT the Youssoupoff pearl...this subject has been much discussed!!!!
On review you are correct. Thank you for pointing this out. the Regent aka the "napoleon" pearl was the only Yussupov pearl one illustrated in my last post. The names make it very easy to confuse them.
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here it is...La Pelegrina Pearl, drop-shaped 133 grains (Sold by Christie's, Geneva, 14 May 1987, for $460,000)
(http://i47.tinypic.com/2ppaf5t.jpg)
Finally got my pearls sorted out I think..
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here it is...La Pelegrina Pearl, drop-shaped 133 grains (Sold by Christie's, Geneva, 14 May 1987, for $460,000)
(http://i47.tinypic.com/2ppaf5t.jpg)
Finally got my pearls sorted out I think..
Yes that is the Youssoupoffs Pelegrina owned by the family from 1826-1952
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I'm not sure whether this correct but I vaguely recall that the Yussupovs bought some of the French Crown Jewels when they were publicly auctioned in the 1880's. Does anyone know if this is the case?
I am currently reading The Man Who Killed Rasputin by Greg King and it did say that they had several pieces that had infact belonged to the French thrown. If I am not mistaken it even said that Irina used Marie Antoinette's veil on her wedding day. :)
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I wonder if Princess Tatiana is wearing the Polar star at the top of her tiara in this painting?
(http://inlinethumb15.webshots.com/37582/2868624380102753164S600x600Q85.jpg) (http://good-times.webshots.com/photo/2868624380102753164iStaTR)
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The Polar Star was more square/oblong...When sold from the estate of Lady (Lydia) Deterding it was mounted as a ring.
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I've read about her jewels but I don't recall the polar star being in the collection. I need to get my hands on that book again!
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Lydia D also owned the Azra pearl but lost it in Paris at a reception held for Princess Margaret.
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That's interesting ashdean, did she ever get it back?
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Nop. It was never found.
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Is there any jewels (no snuffbox or fabergé marvelous products) from the Youssupov family exhibit in a public or private museum in America (canada, Usa) ? By the way, I find your research work and passion fantastic all of you here on this discussion. Love and peace for Christmas Cte Guiramov
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Is there any jewels (no snuffbox or fabergé marvelous products) from the Youssupov family exhibit in a public or private museum in America (canada, Usa) ? By the way, I find your research work and passion fantastic all of you here on this discussion. Love and peace for Christmas Cte Guiramov
At Hillwood in Rocky creek park,Washington DC are the Youssoupov Faberge box..a musical box given to celebrate Zenaida's 25th wedding anniversary and a ruby topped snuff box which was brought out of Russia by Felix and sold in 1925 to Marjorie Post.
Mrs Post also bought the famed Marie Antoinette earrings which passed to the Smithsonian museum and are on display with other celebrated gems..
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Many thanks Monsieur Ashdean - unfortunately these items wich I knew and I have seen already. No, I am stricly looking for tiara, ring, necklace, pieces by Boucheron or Cartier from the cassette of the Youssupov clan.
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I've finally found some decent images of Youssupov diamonds.
The Polar Star Diamond (41.285 carats) - two views, with the second one highlighting the eight point star cut which gives the stone it's name.
(http://i47.tinypic.com/302uezs.jpg)
(http://i49.tinypic.com/20kayjo.jpg)
The Sultan of Morocco diamond. This is a steel coloured diamond of 33.67 carats and is usually classed with other blue diamonds for rarity
(http://i45.tinypic.com/jab5kx.jpg)
The Yussupov's owned one other notable diamond the "Ram's Head", a light pinkish gem of 17.47 carats which seems at this point to be lost from the photos of noteable gems and no modern history is known about it.
And there were also Marie Antoinette's diamond earrings, weighing 14.25 and 20.34 carats respectively and were originally bought for the Yousspov collection by Princess Tatiana and are still in their original 18th century setting. Harry Winston reset the large diamonds in platinum replicas of the original silver settings in 1959. Cartier, Inc. designed the triangular tops. In November 1964, Mrs. Post's daughter, Mrs. Eleanor Barzin, donated the earrings, along with the original setting to the Smithsonian Institution. The diamonds are originally from India or Brazil, the only significant sources of diamonds in the eighteenth century.HarryNow in the Smithsonian in the USA which were donated by Marjorie Post
(http://i49.tinypic.com/k1qpzd.jpg)
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Beautiful pictures. Thank you for posting them. Those are truly stunning pieces.
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The Yussupov's owned one other notable diamond the "Ram's Head", a light pinkish gem of 17.47 carats which seems at this point to be lost from the photos of noteable gems and no modern history is known about it.
[/quote]
The Rams head was bought by the Singer sewing machine heiress & international style icon Daisy Fellowes whose collection of high fashion jewels by the great houses Cartier etc is legendary..Daisy had it set as a ring and reputedly comissioned a wardrobe in the same shade of pink from Schiaparelli to complement it...hence "Shocking pink".
Sadly soon afterward (prior WW2) the ring and other gems were stolen and never heard of again...
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The Yussupov's owned one other notable diamond the "Ram's Head", a light pinkish gem of 17.47 carats which seems at this point to be lost from the photos of noteable gems and no modern history is known about it.
The Rams head was bought by the Singer sewing machine heiress & international style icon Daisy Fellowes whose collection of high fashion jewels by the great houses Cartier etc is legendary..Daisy had it set as a ring and reputedly comissioned a wardrobe in the same shade of pink from Schiaparelli to complement it...hence "Shocking pink".
Sadly soon afterward (prior WW2) the ring and other gems were stolen and never heard of again...
[/quote]
Thank you very much for that nugget of information. It's amazing the history of these pieces sometimes. "shocking pink" - it must have been a truly gorgeous diamond then. It'd fetch a fortune in today's market where pink diamonds and sapphires are so sought after.
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I suppose this isn't strictly jewellery, but this seemed the best place to put it. A photo of a faberge box bought out of Russia by Felix and sold to Cartier and then to the Hillwood estate.
(http://i48.tinypic.com/35mi5vd.jpg)
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I was totally flabbergasted to find the sapphire venus (mentioned by Felix in his book) on Christie's October sale catalogue. I sort of thought that the venus would have been just a legend... or if it was true it would be hidden somewhere and never showing up just like the rock crystal tiara and sunburst tiara of Irina.
I was a bit disappointed for the carving job which doesn't look very detailed, especially the face and toes are very simple. But corundum is hard material. Maybe that explains it. The colour of the sapphire is typically uneven but lovely light blue. Sri lankan stuff?
(http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y55/Timantti-Mia/Yusupovvenus.jpg?t=1266349148)
Image by Christie's. Sorry about that Christie's but I hoped it would get more attention when shown.
The Lot Text by Christie's (http://www.christies.com/lotfinder/lot_details.aspx?from=searchresults&pos=1&intObjectID=5250434&sid=8e00c9eb-2417-495f-8d1b-d0e1d27e4b45) A very nice lot text indeed.
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I was totally flabbergasted to find the sapphire venus (mentioned by Felix in his book) on Christie's October sale catalogue. I sort of thought that the venus would have been just a legend... or if it was true it would be hidden somewhere and never showing up just like the rock crystal tiara and sunburst tiara of Irina.
I was a bit disappointed for the carving job which doesn't look very detailed, especially the face and toes are very simple. But corundum is hard material. Maybe that explains it. The colour of the sapphire is typically uneven but lovely light blue. Sri lankan stuff?
(http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y55/Timantti-Mia/Yusupovvenus.jpg?t=1266349148)
Image by Christie's. Sorry about that Christie's but I hoped it would get more attention when shown.
The Lot Text by Christie's (http://www.christies.com/lotfinder/lot_details.aspx?from=searchresults&pos=1&intObjectID=5250434&sid=8e00c9eb-2417-495f-8d1b-d0e1d27e4b45) A very nice lot text indeed.
The tiaras of Irina discovered in 1925 were no doubt dismanted within a very short time for their materials...however the Venus sapphire was well documented after the revolution...as it was exported by Felix and exhibited in New York city...
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some more for the collection:
La Pelegrina & the Azra black Pear of Catherine II
Until 1783 a famous necklace known as 'the Azra' was among the Russian crown jewels. It consisted of 110 perfectly matched pearls with a large round black pearl at the junction of the two ends from which, suspended from a diamond cross, was a great black pear shaped pearl of beautiful form and lusture known as 'the Azra'. Empress Catherine II gave it to her favourite Potemkin in 1783 and he bequeathed it to his niece, Princess Tatania Youssoupoff. Since then it has been handed down in the Youssupoff family who also acquired 'la pelegrina, which was formerly a part of the Spanish crown jewels. The two pearls were displayed together in the exhibition of Russian art held in London in 1935.
(http://inlinethumb53.webshots.com/18548/2915788550102753164S600x600Q85.jpg) (http://entertainment.webshots.com/photo/2915788550102753164jyUyGd)
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Those two pieces of jewelery displayed together look so magnificent!!! I know everyone raves about the La Pelegrina but I think the Azra Black Pearl and combination diamond cross and white pearl necklace is sensational. It must have been one of the crowning glories of the Yusupov jewelry collection. I hope it is featured in the upcoming "Jewels of the Romanovs: Family and Court" book.
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Those two pieces of jewelery displayed together look so magnificent!!! I know everyone raves about the La Pelegrina but I think the Azra Black Pearl and combination diamond cross and white pearl necklace is sensational. It must have been one of the crowning glories of the Yusupov jewelry collection. I hope it is featured in the upcoming "Jewels of the Romanovs: Family and Court" book.
I do a well. I found this image in Lord Twining's 'crown jewels of europe' when I was finally able to see it at the library. The book also has specific details of the Russian imperial jewels sold in 1927 with prices realised and buyers names etc, and it made truly realise how thin the information supplied in books like Prince Michael's 'jewel's of the tsars' is. I would really like to see some meaty information on the jewels, and specific details as to stone sizes etc where availabe in "jewels of the romanovs' as it would make it a much more useful reference work in the future.
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The Yusupov Jewellery on display in 1914 year
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v433/feomarie/Rarefind/1110276_0001.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v433/feomarie/Rarefind/1110277_0001.jpg)
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Wedding presents to Princess Irina, displayed at her mother's Palace in 1914 year.
Family diamonds of the Yusupovs: diadem and necklace
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v433/feomarie/Rarefind/irinajewe2.jpg)
And other presents in the window-case:
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v433/feomarie/Rarefind/1110106_0001-1.jpg)
1. Top shelf – in the centre - Rock Crystal and Diamond Diadem by Cartier. Present by Felix. Irina wore at her wedding
Diamond earrings with pearls of the Yusupovs – from Felix
Emerald and diamond brooch - present from GDss Olga Alexandrovna
Diamond bracelet – from Felix
Pendant - from the Yusupovs, parents of Felix
2. Second shelf
Miniature - portrait of Queen Alexandra of England, her present
Brooch – from Empress Maria Fedorovna
2 rope of pearls – from Nicholas II
Rope of diamonds , and an emerald – from GDss Xenia
Diamond brooch – from GD Nikolai Mikhailovitch
Bracelet – from Princess Victoria of England
Diamond ring – from GDsses Olga and Tatiana, daughters of Nicholas II
Brooch – from the British Embassy
3. Third shelf
Big diamonds, rubies and pearls brooch – from GDss Xenia
Sapphire and diamond necklace – from GD Alexander M., her father.
Probably
http://www.royal-magazin.de/russia/jussupov/jussupow-sapphire-tiara.htm (http://www.royal-magazin.de/russia/jussupov/jussupow-sapphire-tiara.htm) this could be the successor of Alexander’s present
Diamond pendant with a pink pearl - GD Nikolai Mikhailovitch
4. Fourth shelf
Stone ostrich – from Countess Orlova-Davidova
Small chest – from Zoya Stekkel
Lily-of-the-valley diamonds and pearls brooch – from GDss Elizaveta Fedorovna
Diamond Bow brooch – from GD Georgiy Mikhailovitch
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Thank you for posting those amazing photos Svetabel. Where on earth did you find them?
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Thank you for posting those amazing photos Svetabel. Where on earth did you find them?
You are always welcome.
This time an old magazine "Stolitza i Usadba", the issues of 1914-1915 years.
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The Yusupov Jewellery on display in 1914 year
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v433/feomarie/Rarefind/1110277_0001.jpg)
The emerald brooch on the right with its triangular central emerald was by Chaumet and is seen again in the foreground of the famous photo of the Youssoupoff jewels being displayed after their discovery in 1925 in Moscow.
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I thought someone here might be interested in this fan that was made by Faberge for Princess Youssopoff. Based on the size of the fan I'd say it dates to the c1880s. The fan in the the photo was owned by the upmarket jewellery Wartski at the time the photo was taken. The image comes from a 1954 Cussons soap ad. There were a series of six adds with different "language of the fan" images produced. This is number 2 in the series "wait for me".
(http://i42.tinypic.com/2q8qct1.jpg)
For a large version of the image click here:
http://i43.tinypic.com/jrcltt.jpg
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Dear katmaxoz,
First of all, a happy new year to all!
Katmaxoz, thank you for posting this picture. I am very interested in Fabergé fans and would love to know in what magazine this ad appeared. And please, can you tell me why you say this fan was made for Princess Youssopoff?
thank you!
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Dear katmaxoz,
First of all, a happy new year to all!
Katmaxoz, thank you for posting this picture. I am very interested in Fabergé fans and would love to know in what magazine this ad appeared. And please, can you tell me why you say this fan was made for Princess Youssopoff?
thank you!
the information was supplied in the advert... please see my PM to you...
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Thank you Katmaxoz!
Anyone perhaps ever seen a photo of the Princess with this fan?
I will search the forum anyway.
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If you are interested in Yussupov jewellery, this DVD has quite a large section on the Yussupov jewels. It talks with Felix's descendant and goes through what happened to the jewels and looks at their surviving books on the jewels Felix got at his wedding. Episode 1 is the jewels of Denmark and Sweden. Episode 2 is the Russian jewels.
http://shop.abc.net.au/products/the-royal-jewels-dvd
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This necklace was sold in 195 for US$105,000 by Sothebys. The round diamonds are from a riviere given to Princess Irina of Russia by her uncle, Czar Nicolas II on the occasion of her marriage to Prince Youssoupoff.
(http://i49.tinypic.com/2058r48.jpg)
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Russian architect and artist Andrew Beloborodov designed the apartments for Felix and Irina. He shares some interesting info in his memoires. I am reporducing the entire extract:
The main room has not been brought to an end because of the war, but soon gets a new Beloborodov, most complex, responsible and important task: "The building of apartments and furnish young Prince Yusupov, soon to be married to the niece of the Emperor Irina. <. ..> apartments for young Yusupov was designed ground floor of the left wing of the palace with its own entrance and fourteen windows on the Moika, and with adequate buildings with windows to the garden. exclusive purpose of this apartment unit depended on many factors. First of all personality and character Young Felix Yusupov was quite unusual, but it depended on all decisions. princess sometimes present in the discussion of emerging issues or in the provision of projects, but never uttered a word, she was very shy, and those who knew little of it, of the resulting a completely false impression of coldness and even arrogance. Once during a discussion of a project Yusupov came a few minutes. Left alone with the silent beauty, Andrew incredibly embarrassed - but even more confused princess, and her gentle, like a white lily, face flushed bright red. So they sat in silence until the prince returned, resuming the previous meeting. When discussing future work, he gave free rein to their imagination fly, quite regardless of any difficulty or the feasibility of their ideas. Sometimes these ideas were muddled and even absurdities, and in these cases, it was not hard to convince him to give it up, but he is often a task that it is due to their difficulty and surprise it was interesting to resolve. For Irina Alexandrovna, in her private quarters, you had to make a crystal bath and "fountain Tears "- and soon silvered walls and vaults of the Small alcove room, painted with fantastic flowers and birds, the water started to overflow drops from one pan to another bowl, these bowls were carved from colorful Ural stones - a crystal bath remained in the project, which has seriously studied . to Duke built a swimming pool, floor, walls and steps that have been made out of huge solid tiled stoves. (St Petersburg's famous sculptor Kuznetsov, who founded the factory majolica and grafted to fulfill these tile, Beloborodov told that most of them burst before they could needed to make the pool liner plate.)
With boudoir Irina Alexandrovna Yusupova at will, was designed for jewelry stash, and the aim was to Princess could see them all at once and make your choice at the evening. Here's how Andrew solved the problem: a small hidden door opened into a narrow the gallery done in wall thickness and leads to a low octagonal room whose walls consist of metal doors. It was enough to push the secret button to the upper part of the door fell open and brightly lit shop windows with all the sparkling jewels. This "magic cave Aladdin" was at the same time and carefully hidden safes.
Another more extensive stash, was held at the library, in a fall through a small door hidden behind a cupboard, which rotates together with all books. Incidentally, Yusupov wanted the air in his room came from the garden, and that his idea was implemented with an elaborate system of hoses and special filter room. There were many oddities in all apartments, but most of all to the extent that was intended for the possible arrival of the prince in the periods when the princess was missing and the state apartments were closed. There was a maze of small rooms with a spiral stair going down to the dungeon, which was to serve as a dining room.
* Apologies for the poor English grammar, I have translated it from original Russian using Google Translate
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Hello, I just find New pictures of jewelry discoveries in 1925:
(http://i273.photobucket.com/albums/jj213/Alexandre64_2007/TresorsYoussoupoff.png) (http://s273.photobucket.com/user/Alexandre64_2007/media/TresorsYoussoupoff.png.html)
1:Pearls and Diamonds Diadem
2:"Collier de Chien", Diamonds, Cartier 1906
3:Sunburst tiara
4:Ruby Diadem, by Chaumet
5:Little necklase in russian style
6:Knot Diamond Brooch
7:"Devant de Corsage",...
(http://i273.photobucket.com/albums/jj213/Alexandre64_2007/TresorsYoussoupoff1.png) (http://s273.photobucket.com/user/Alexandre64_2007/media/TresorsYoussoupoff1.png.html)
9:Ruby and Diamond Brooch, by Chaumet
10:Ruby and Diamond necklase, by Chaumet
11:Emerald and diamonds diadem, by Chaumet
12:Russian Necklase
13:Diadem ?
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and above the Brooch by Chaumet, the diamonds tiara of Grand Duchess Xenia
between the 10 and the 12, a diamond and emerald brooch, of the Grand Duchess Xenia, Sandro gift
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Hi everyone,
Sorry to resurrect a very old thread, but does anyone know the source of these images and/or the current location of this album of Yusupov jewels? Any other information relating to its creation/history would also be very helpful. Thank you!
http://members2.boardhost.com/royal-jewels/msg/archive/1327402202.html
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The images were published in the book 'Les Princes Youssoupoff' by Jacques Ferrand. The album was created in 1914 to photograph the collection of jewels which were given to Princess Irina as wedding gifts. Felix took the album into exile with him and it was (as of a few years ago) in the possession of his granddaughter Xenia Sfiris.