Imperial Family Jewels

[grandduchessella]

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.

[Dashkova]

Thanks for posting the photos of the jewels, particularly the nuptial crown. I remember when I finally got to see it at the Hillwood Museum, and it was just so small, delicate and dainty, and of course, very beautiful.

[Janet_W.]

I remember seeing the magnificent display of diamonds at the Kremlin--after prolonged security clearance, followed by taking several flights of stairs down into an unassailable cavern, where everything was behind bullet-proof glass--and thinking, "Very beautiful . . . but oh, at what a cost to human life and happiness!"

All the same, thank you Grandduchessella and Olga, for posting the photographs of such extraordinary works of art. And I agree that the nuptial crown is delightful. One of these days I hope to visit Hillwood and see it in person!

[grandduchessella]

Some more items:

nuptial earrings (that were supposedly VERY heavy):


nuptial necklace


nuptial mantle

[Robert_Hall]

These things must have been very heavy to wear. Especially those ear rings !
In the cases of "imperial" jewels, i.e. already created, how much time was needed to make the proper adjustments for the wearer ? Surtely they were not "one size fits all ?
And in the case of newly comissioned items, how long would it take to procure the gems, design, approve then actually create the item?  Were there ready stocks of these things ready to be customised ? I think I read that the Imperial vaults had a generous supply of loose stones for just such opprotunities, how about the jewelry houses, did they have ready designs ?
I know it all to common now, but how common then was it to dismantle & re-use jewelry in those days?
A lot of guestions on a fascinating subject.
Cheers,
Robert
P.S. I think we should just give Nick a Q&A thread...

[Martyn]

Am I correct in thinking that the nuptial crown was made by Catherine the Great from a diamond belt?
Grandduchessella, the photo in which the jewels are laid out is in fact only half of the picture.
Most of the jewels are State jewels but I think that I am correct in saying that there are some of Alix's personal jewels laid out on the table, notably the tiara at the very end on the right which I think was given to her upon her marriage.
I'll have to take a look at the wonderful Geoffrey Munn before I attempt to remember who made it (possibly Kochert?) and what it was set with (maybe emeralds?).  This must have been the most dazzling display of jewellery; such a shame that we don't have a record of these remarkable jewels in colour apart from the few pieces that survive.

[grandduchessella]

Am I correct in thinking that the nuptial crown was made by Catherine the Great from a diamond belt? Grandduchessella, the photo in which the jewels are laid out is in fact only half of the picture. Most of the jewels are State jewels but I think that I am correct in saying that there are some of Alix's personal jewels laid out on the table, notably the tiara at the very end on the right which I think was given to her upon her marriage. I'll have to take a look at the wonderful Geoffrey Munn before I attempt to remember who made it (possibly Kochert?) and what it was set with (maybe emeralds?).  This must have been the most dazzling display of jewellery; such a shame that we don't have a record of these remarkable jewels in colour apart from the few pieces that survive.

Yes, you're right on all counts. I do remember reading that the crown was made out of a belt; it is only part of the whole collection (I had to find a non-.bmp photo to post) and some were from Alix's private collection. I would've loved to have seen these in all their glory rather than in b&w--can you imagine how dazzling it would've been all gathered together?


Nuptial Crown
The historical origin of this crown is not know.It was placed in special case, the work of the jewelers Nicholls Planke about 1840. It was used at weddings for members of the Russian imperial family, The crown was apparentely made up from old embroideries with brilliants of Catherine evidentely taken from half a belt of brilliants. These embroideries with brilliants were sewn on and some solitaires, also sewn on, to the purple velvet to wich they were fastened by unusually inaccurate silver threats, rather uneven, unsymmetrical and crooked. These embroideries themselves were on black riband: eighty pieces held with 4 large brilliants, 320 brilliants of 182 carats and about 1.200 single-facet stones of 80 carats. On the top under the cross are 2 moderate-sized solitaires in silver settings weighing about 6 carats. On the cross itself there are six stones of about 15 carats.
The crown is now on display at the Hillwood Musuem in Washington DC

[grandduchessella]

Some of the other items which might be displayed (though it's hard to tell with the b&w and the smaller objects):

BRILLIANT TIARA: This ornament belonged to Elizabeth Petrovna in 1761. There are 27 brilliants some of which are yellow weighing 34 ½ carats, and various small stones weighing 62 carats.



BRILLIANT AND PEARL TIARA: Diadem of brilliants with 18 pear-shaped pearls. 529 brilliants weigh 118 m.c ans some small roses 2 m.c. The pearls weigh 250 m.c.



DIAMOND FRINGE NECKLACE TIARA:A diamond fringe necklace which can, mounted on a base, also be worn as a tiara.



EARS OF WHEAT TIARA There are 37 Indian briolettes os special beauty, of wonderful water and rarity of workmanship, pointed at either end. There are 6 brilliants of 9 carats, 5 of 61/2 carats, 8 of 8 carats, 35 of 24 ½ carats. Various others of 115, besides 800 roses. The large stone in the centre is a a white sapphire of 37 carats. This piece was added to the Russian Treasury on the death of Maria Feodorovna, wife of Paul I, in 1829. It was sold by the Soviet Government in 1929. Present wherabouts unknow.

[grandduchessella]

PEARL TIARA
This beautiful XIX-Century  tiara is set with 340 brilliants weighing 287 ½ and others weighing 84 carats besides 500 roses. The large stone is 10 7/8 carats, but has spots. The large pearl weigh 35 ¾, 42, 29, 26, 25, 24, 23, 22 ¾, 22, 19, 17, and 14 carats, respectively, and the remainder numbering 101 weigh 339 ½ carats. It was sold in 1929. Present whereabout is unknow. Aleksandra wore this outfit on special occasions, such as the famous opening of the Imperial Duma in the St. George Hall Winter Palace. The Imperial Jewels, those which were not the personal possesion of Aleksandra, were kept in the Jewel Room of the Winter Palace. The Empress had to sign a receipt when she checked them out with a return date. The custodians of the Jewel Room where not shy to remind the Empress's Mistress of Robes if the jewels were late to be returned. The crown in this photograph was considered ponderously heavy and came from the "Tsarevich's" set, intended for the Heir's wife. It was a 'second-string crown' as far as Imperial diadems went. Nicholas' s mother, the Dowager Empress Maria, kept the Imperial diadem meant for the Soveriegn's wife for herself, as was her right. This reportedly caused some friction between Maria and Aleksandra. Being a small woman this crown looked enormous on Maria and she hated wearing it.

[grandduchessella]

SAPPHIRE TIARA Belonging to a parure. There are 163 brilliants weighing 197 m.c and 550 smaller stones weighing 200 m.c They are good souht african stones. the total weigh of the 16 large sapphires is 222 m.c: 1 Weighs 33 m.c; 2 Weighs 55 m.c, 2 Weighs 30 m.c, 2 Weighs 45 m.c, 2 Weighs 30 m.c, 2 Weighs 310 m.c, 5 Weighs 16 m.c


SMALL CROWN This silver Imperial crown is made of silver and completely covered with diamonds of exeptional quality. This crown was made for HIM Empress Elisabeth, wife of Emperor Alexander I by the french jeweller Duval in 1801.

[Angie_H]

Didn't Cartier get a hold of the Nuptial Crown after the Revolution? I seem to remember reading that somewhere
Angie

[Dashkova]

http://www.hillwoodmuseum.org/art_collection/metal/f4.html

This is a link to a photo and more info on the nuptial crown.  Last time I checked it was (and has been for some time) property of the Hillwood Museum in Washington, DC.

[Lisa]

TSARINA ALEXANDRA'S PEARL CORONET  This small diamond and pearls crown it said to had be made by Fabergé. It was one of the favourites tiaras to Alexandra, who wears it in various official family portraits. Current whereabouts unknown

Excuse me, but I think that's not the same diadem... Look carefully at the design.. There are flowers and no diamonds on the one of Alix...  I think that the tiara with "flowers" is the one that Alix take with her in Ekaterinburg (cf. close-up below of the jewels of Ekaterinbourg...).

[Lisa]

In fact, I don't think that the one of the 1906-photo is the same one of Ekaterinbourg... Rather this one...


(and not the one on the left, top)

[Lisa]

Hre you can see Dagmar with the tiara, by Schultz, 1880's. The effect is completely different...