This Mugal carved emerald and diamond brooch was presented from the Maharanis of India on the occassion of the Dehli Durbar in the year 1911 to Queen Mary of England, Empress of India.
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Queen Mary received a deputation of Indian ladies, headed by the Maharani Patiala, who presented her with two jewels.
Her Majestys Purdah party - On the morning of 13th December her Majesty the Queen-Empress held a Purdah Party, at which over one hundred of the leeding Maharanis, Ranis and other ladies of India were present. On this occassion she wore the magnificent emerald brooch presented to her on the previous Saturday by the Maharanis of India.
The first was a necklace designed as rosettes of diamonds set with emeralds and an emerald drop.
The second was this brooch set with what was described in newspapers as a historic carved emerald in a border of 30 diamonds and 4 larger diamonds.
Queen Mary later reply for thanking the for their gift - to the ladies of India,
"The jewel you have given me will ever be very precious in my eyes and whenever I wear it, though thousands of miles of land and sea separate us, my thoughts will fly to the homes of India, and create again and again this happy meeting and recall the tender love your hearts have yielded me. Your jewel shall pass to future generations as an imperial heirloom, and always stand as a token, of the first meeting of an English Queen with the ladies of India. I thank you for your congratulations and for the good wishes.............. "
Queen Mary often wore the brooch as part of her emerald parure. Queen Mary wore the carved emerald brooch still her life and also as centre of a tiara.
Queen Elizabeth II is pictured in the year 2013 wearing this emerald and diamond brooch, see above.
Now it was seen again when Camilla the Queen Consort in 2024 visit Royal Ascot, she wore new pavee setted diamond floral earrings.
Sources:The Royal Tour Who's who in India
von R.Bahadur;Archive Ursula Butschal;
