Sale on Tiaras at Harrods
Livadia
> >>>>>>http://uk.fc.yahoo.com/010103/46/augnx.html
>
>>>>>MarthaT wrote:
>>>>>F I E L D T R I P ! ! ! ! !
>>>>>Ok girls, we meet at the Tank in
>>>>> one hour to go shopping. Wear
>>>>>comfortable but fashionable shoes
>>>>>as we'll probably do a bit of
>>>>>sprinting from the main doors once
>>>>>we get there
>>>>Livadia wrote:
>>>>just let me know how many you'd like
>>>>me to pick up for you!
>>>RCLOVELY wrote:
>>>Can you pick up one for me too? I
>>>have a sick baby grandaughter and
>>>have to get to her mama. I do need
>>>something silver with pearls though.
>>Gill W wrote:
>>Take my advice an go for platinum -
>>silver will tarnish horribly, dear, and
>>take up so much time with constant
>>cleaning!
>>Platinum will stay shiny bright and is
>>SO much classier.....
>Susan Cohen wrote:
>And didn't he look darling in it?
>Susan (who just picked up a little art
>deco number on eBay....
Sorry, girls...
Afraid all Harrods' hype about the tiara sale was just a come-on.
Not a tiara in sight, by the time I made it to Brompton Road!
However, I found something even better -- a great little book called
"One Hundred Tiaras -- An Evolution of Style 1800-1900" published by
Wartski the famous jewelers.
Actually, the book was published in connection with an exhibition hosted
by Wartski back in 1997 which was held as a charity event for the
Samaritans.
One of the most stunning pieces in this exhibition was the tiara that
the young Queen Victoria was seen wearing in the famous portrait
Winterhalter painted of her in 1842 which now hangs in Windsor Castle.
What's especially unique about the piece is that it was flexible tiara
which could be rolled to form a coronet which Victoria used to encircle
her chignon when posing for the portrait.
Winterhalter didn't much like painting his women with jewelry and
preferred to adorn them with lots of flowers.
However, in the case of this portrait of Victoria and the famous one he
completed of Empress "Sisi" of Austria which features her fabulous
diamond star hair ornaments, he acquiesced. ;>
Victoria's Gothic-styled tiara is set with kite and cushion-shaped
sapphires and diamonds -- the sapphires are set in gold and the diamonds
in silver.
All told, seven tiaras were lent to the exhibition by the British Royal
Family and it was believed this exhibition was the first time Victoria's
"Winterhalter" tiara had ever been on public display.
The book includes more than 25 pages of full-color photos, including a
wonderful photo of the Spencer Family Tiara, the favorite diamond tiara
of Empress Eugenie of France and pieces by many of the more notable
"contemporary" jewellery houses including Lalique, Cartier and
Faberge.
Wartski currently has the book on display in one of their shop windows
nestled among some of the lovely estate jewelry they always have for
sale.
Price of the book is only 5£ (approx $7.50 USD). I'm sure if you
contacted them direct they would be happy to send you a copy.
Can't remember if they have a website, but here's the address/phone for
any who are interested:
Wartski
14 Grafton Street
London W1X 4DE
Phone: 0171-493-1141
If you get to London, window shopping in the Grafton/Bond Street area is
always a treat.
Many of the great jewelers which have served royalty for several
generations are located in that area including Asprey & Garrard which
always has wonderful things on display.
Gill Webster
Livadia <Liv...@webtv.net> wrote in message
news:3611-3A7...@storefull-104.iap.bryant.webtv.net...
>>>>>F I E L D T R I P ! ! ! ! !
>>>>>Ok girls, we meet at the Tank in
>>>>> one hour to go shopping. Wear
>>>>>comfortable but fashionable shoes
>>>>>as we'll probably do a bit of
>>>>>sprinting from the main doors once
>>>>>we get there
...(clipped)...
I was lucky enough to go to that display at Wartski. (March 1997)
It was great.
This book was actually the catalogue included in the entry price (to raise
money for charity)
I didn't realise it was still available. Worth getting for anyone
interested in jewellery - I recommend it.
Gill
Susan Cohen
The DH just bought me "The Queen's Jewels," by Leslie Field,
& while it has terrific stories about some the pieces, there isn't
a whole lot actually in the book. Unless, of course, HM has far
less jewels than we imagine? Why do I doubt this?
Susan
Livadia
>I was lucky enough to go to that display
>at Wartski. (March 1997) It was great.
I bet it was!
My only regret about the publication is there isn't a photo of every
tiara that was featured in the exhibition, though the descriptions alone
are exquisite.
>SusanC wrote:
>Fabulous job, Livadia!
Thanks, glad to know you found the post interesting.
>The DH just bought me "The Queen's
>Jewels," by Leslie Field, & while it has
>terrific stories about some the pieces,
>there isn't a whole lot actually in the
>book. Unless, of course, HM has far less
>jewels than we imagine? Why do I doubt
>this?
LOL...
I kinda doubt it, too, Susan! ;>
If you are into fabulous jewelry, you might want to drop a hit to DH
that you'd also like a copy of "The Master Jewelers" which was published
in 1990 by Harry N. Abrams (U.S.) and also Thames and Hudson, Ltd.
(London).
Kenneth Snowman of Wartski edited the book and IMO there is no more
beautiful and informative volume on the great jewelry houses than this.
The book is full of pages and pages of stunning bxw and color photos and
bios and backgrounds about such jewelers as Falize, Boucheron, Faberge,
Lalique, Van Cleef & Arpels,, Tiffany, Cartier, Bulgari, Tillander and
Fouquet.
I believe it's out of print now, but I have seen copies come up on eBay,
several listed through www.bookfinder.com and I noticed that Wartski
also lists it on their website as a publication that's available from
them.
Due to the book's size and weight, however, you'd save a bundle on
shipping it you could locate copy in the U.S.
Enjoy!