The Rosebery Tiara, French, 1878

Set with a number of impressive and important diamonds. The tiara is comprised of ornate scrollwork and foliate detailing in a graduated sequence of crescents within which large collet stones are set and flanked by foliate scrolls issuing stylised lilies, with a band interspersed with square and lozenge stones, set throughout with diamonds. These design elements are typical motifs of the late 19th century. Inner length approximately 245mm.

Provenance

Presented to Hannah Rothschild by the Earl of Rosebery upon the occasion of their marriage

Exhibited

Japan, Jewellery from Renaissance to Art Déco: 1540-1940, Tokyo 24 April-1 July 2003; Fukuoka 12 July-24 August 2003; Nagoya 30 August-23 September 2003; Kyoto 25 October-30 November 2003, no. II-90
Boston, Crowning Glories: Two Centuries of Tiaras, Museum of Fine Arts, 1 March - 25 June 2000

Literature

Exhibition catalogue, D. Scarisbrick, Tiara, Chronicle Books, San Francisco, 2000, pp. 88-89, illustrated
Exhibition catalogue, D. Scarisbrick & N. Ohashi eds., Jewellery from Renaissance to Art Déco: 1540-1940, 2003, p. 170, illustrated