Star Tiaras

[Julia]

English. c. 1870, remounted 1937, gold, silver, diamonds, button pearls.

This tiara has quite a bit of history attached (no pun intended) to it. I will type it up later!

 

[Julia]

As worn by the future Countess Mountbatten of Burma. She was photographed by Cecil Beaton in 1937 for a Vogue article on society women at the time of George VI's coronation.

 

[Julia]

Commentary on the Mountbatten Star Tiara:

From engrailed paved diamond circlet rise five five-pointed stars similarly paved and centered on a button pearl with a raised border. Made famous by the Empress Elizabeth of Austria, who was painted by F.X. Winterhalter (1865) wearing stars on her hair pinned to a black velvet bandeau, stars sparkling with diamonds have been favored ever since. These were given by the daughter of Queen Victoria, Princess Louise, duchess of Argyll to her goddaughter and niece, Princess Victoria of Hesse, and the marchioness of Milford Haven, married to the First Sea Lord Prince Louis of Battenberg. She was on a visit to her sister, the Tsarina Alexandra Feodorovna in 1914 when war was declared and she had to leave for home in a great hurry. Since the jewels would have been a responsibility, the Tsarina suggested they should be left behind in her care. As is well known, the revolution of 1917 led to the disappearance of many valuables in Russia, including the Battenberg jewels, which were never seen again. Princess Louise therefore gave Princess Victoria this tiara to replace what had been lost. It then descended to her daughter-in-law, Edwina, future Countess Mountbatten of Burma, who had the stars remounted in a more modern style in the mid-1930s. She in turn gave the tiara to her daughter, Patricia, the present Countess Mountbatten of Burma, as a wedding present upon her marriage to Lord Brabourne in 1946. She wore it to the court ball held at Buckingham Palace to celebrate the marriage of the future Queen Elizabeth II with the duke of Edinburgh in 1947, and it has been worn by her daughters and daughters-in-law at their weddings. Diana Scarisbrick.

 

[Julia]

Princess Maxima wearing the "star" tiara at the wedding of Princess Martha-Louise to Ari Behn.

 

[Julia]

From Corbis.com

 

[Julia]

As worn by the future Countess Mountbatten of Burma. She was photographed by Cecil Beaton in 1937 for a Vogue article on society women at the time of George VI's coronation.

 

[Julia]

Large pic of the Mountbatten Star Tiara....

 

[Julia]

Grand Duchess of Hesse
(the Duke of Edinburgh's late sister)

 

[Fireweaver]

The pictures are wonderful!! Do you know of any others? I think one Italian Queen had a Star Tiara but I can't remember her name at all

 

[Julia]

You are most welcome! I adore star themed tiaras and have had a bit of trouble finding many. According to Diana Scarisbrick, she wrote Tiara, the star-themed tiara became very popular after Empress Elizabeth of Austria was seen in a portrait wearing stars on a black velvet bandeau. If they did become popular where did they all go? To the pawn shop? Maxima's, GD of Hesse and the Mountbatten tiara are the only three I can think of....

I think I know which queen you are speaking of but I will have to look!

 

[Julia]

From one of Josefine's fantastic posts. I hope that one of the royal houses purchased these and will use them in a tiara setting. Just gorgeous.


MEASUREMENTS
subsequently rhodium plated, the five larger stars may be mounted as a tiara on the provided frame, the two smallest stars are mounted as earrings, screwdriver and extra brooch and pendant fittings provided, fitted tiara case by A. Dragsted, Copenhagen.

DESCRIPTION
The stars graduated in size from twelve to sixteen points, each decorated with circular- and single-cut diamonds with a larger circular-cut stone collet-set at the centre

Dragsted, jeweller to the Royal Danish Court, was founded in 1854 by Arent Nicolai Dragsted. His two sons continued the business and included the Russian emperor among their clients. The company is still owned and run by the family today.

It is understood that this tiara once belonged to Ulla Poulsen, a ballerina with the Royal Danish Theatre.

 

[Fireweaver]

I credited the wrong MB. It's actually from a post on this site. Sorry!

 

[Fireweaver]

According to the Royal Jewel's website, there is a star tiara in the Danish family, "Queen Sophie's Star Tiara"
but I've no idea who's inherited it or if it's in the family trust. Also, the pictures aren't that clear.

 

[Julia]

Hey Fireweaver.

I completely forgot about "Queen Sophie's Tiara"! You're quite right about the pics being a little blurry. I wonder if Princess Alexandra and her sister Princess Nathalie share the tiara since both are seen wearing it?

Queen Ingrid wearing the tiara....

 

[Fireweaver]

Does that mean Princess Benedikte has inherited the tiara? If so, I doubt Mary, or CP Frederik's bride, would get a chance to wear it, so they'd still need a new one
I wonder what a star tiara with sapphires would look like. I mean, the diamonds are gorgeous of course, but maybe diamond stars on a sapphire and diamond band, or maybe like Q. Sophie's tiara only with sapphire stones interspurced with the stars?

 

[Fireweaver]

This is the file from Danjel's site!

 

[Julia]

A star tiara that I believe was part of the V&A exhibit this past year.....

 

[Mandy]

From Danjel Site: Queen Maria Pia's Star Tiara from Portugal.

My Webpage

 

[Danjel]

Hey!

I'm very sorry, but I don't have better pics of Countess Ruth's Star tiara......

But...........Hans and Volker....both have send me a picture of Queen Elisabeth of Belgium with a star tiara, I don't know wheter it's sold or still in the Belgian vaults......

Greetz
Danjel

 

[Danjel]

and the second picture.....

 

[Alexandria]

Mandy, the picture of Queen Maria Pia's Star Tiara from Portugal is absolutely amazing. It took my breath away! Where is that tiara presently? Has anyone worn it in recent years, like to a wedding or something? I'd like to see a picture of what hairstyle is appropriate/fitting of that wonderous tiara.

 

[Mandy]

Alexandria,
I found Queen Maria Pia's Star Tiara from Portugal on Royalty Danjel's site and I don't have any more information than what is on that site. Perhaps Danjel could answer your questions. Sorry.

 

[Danjel]

Hey Fireweaver,

I've got another star tiara.....a few days ago I recieved two envelopes with pictures of all kind of tiara.....I DID include one star tiara.....!!!


Here you'll see Princess Alice of Greece, born Princess of Battenberg, she is the mother of Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh...

 

[Danjel]

Alexandria,

The Portugese Star tiara has not been worn in recent years...it was only worn by Queen Maria Pia and Queen Amelie. Since Portugal became a Republic (1910) it is exhibited in the Ajuda Palace in Lisboa........if you ever want to go there........

greetz
Danjel

 

[Danjel]

Fireweaver.......

I've found another one!!!

HRH Princess Marie of Greece and Denmark, born Princess Marie Bonaparte.

Princess Marie, who was married to the second son of King George I of Greece, Prince George, was besides a princess also a famous psychoanalist. Here she is depicted in the mid 1950's at an official occasion in Athens.

greetz
Danjel

 

[Danjel]

THANK YOU!!!

Euh, by the way........again two other ones......not really "star-star" tiara's, but I still think they fit in here...

The first one is Princess Anna of Lippe, born Princess von Ysenburg und Büdingen in Büdingen.

 

[Danjel]

and the second one, which looks VERY much like the Lippe-tiara.....
This is Duchess Elizabeth of Mecklenburg.

 

[Julia]

Happy, happy Birthday Danjel and thank you so much for all of the gorgeous pictures!

 

[Danjel]

Dear everybody!

Again........a star tiara...........Claes from Sweden send me this wonderful picture of ex-queen Isabella of Spain!

Greetz
Danjel

 

[Danjel]

Hey everybody!

I've found something again!!!

Volker (the picture King ) has send me this pic of Jacqueline Kennedy................yessssssssssssssssssss, with a star.....not quit a tiara, but more a hair ornament...

greetz!

Danjel