Above Beatrice Mills, Countess Granard with her large koskoshnik diadem of diamonds, made for her in 1937, by Cartier, a truly magnificent tiara of oriental inspiration.
Its sweeping line is accentueated by parallel rows. Brilliant and pear-shaped stones of great value are incorporated into the design; some are old-cut and must have come from the Granard family collection.
She was a regular client of Cartier London and was one of the last great buyers of kokoshniks, she ordered one in 1922, another in 1923 and a third kokoshnik in 1937- the big one for the coronation.
Beatrice Countess of Granard 1883-1972, who was born Beatrice Mills, daughter of the great American fnancier and banker Ogden Mills. A famous hostess and race horse owner and breeder, winner of the Grand Prix as first women, she married in 1909 the 8th Earl of Granard. She lived between London, Paris and Castle Forbes in Ireland.
In the diaries, Chips Channon described a dinner party he gave in February 1938, attended by Winston and Mrs Churchill and the Grandards among others. Channen wrote "Lady Granard could scarcely walk for jewels".
The whereabout of the tiara is unknown. Three of the five Art Deco Diamond Brooches, which are part of the tiara, are known>>
Sources:Nadelhoffer;G. Munn, Tiaras Past and Present, London, V&A PublishingThe San Francisco call;Christies;Cartier Nussbaumer; "Daily Mail" Telegraphs;
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