Magnificent Pearl and Diamond Brooch by Bapst – House of Orléans
An extraordinary pearl and diamond brooch created by the renowned Parisian jeweller Bapst for the French royal House of Orléans.
The magnificent jewel features an elaborate openwork composition of scrolling diamond-set motifs, richly adorned with large diamonds of varying sizes. The intricate design is crowned by prominent diamonds, while the lower section is embellished with five magnificent pear-shaped pearl drops, suspended from ornate diamond-set caps.
The central pearl hangs slightly lower than the others, creating an elegant, balanced arrangement and emphasising the impressive dimensions of the jewel.
The historical illustration bears the original French caption:
“Broche perles et brillants, exécutée par Bapst pour la famille d’Orléans.”
This remarkable creation exemplifies the splendour and craftsmanship of nineteenth-century French royal jewellery, combining the brilliance of diamonds with the timeless elegance of pearls.
It was worn by the last Duchess of Montpensier with three of the large pearls and two of the pearshaped pearls are the earrings.
The Four-Strand Pearl Necklace of the Countess of Paris
A remarkable series of historical portraits shows Marie Isabelle d’Orléans (1848–1919), Countess of Paris, repeatedly wearing an impressive four-strand pearl necklace.
The jewel may be connected with an important provision in the will of her mother-in-law, Hélène of Mecklenburg-Schwerin, Duchess of Orléans, who died in 1858.
A contemporary newspaper report explicitly mentions a magnificent four-strand pearl necklace intended to be worn by the future Countess of Paris.
« Ce beau collier de perles, à quatre rangs »
Following her marriage to Prince Philippe d’Orléans, Count of Paris, in 1864, Marie Isabelle was frequently portrayed wearing four rows of pearls, see above.
The repeated appearance of this distinctive arrangement in historical portraits provides valuable visual evidence alongside the written testamentary record.
Whether every portrait depicts the very same necklace, and whether it can be identified with the pearl parure presented to Hélène in 1837, remains an intriguing question for further historical research.
Historical research and documentation © Royal Magazin – Ursula Butschal.
Quelle:Mellerio Archive,Archive Ursula Butschal;
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Emerald and Diamond Parure |Royal France |Jewels Queen Marie Amelie |Joyaux de la Reine Marie-Amélie
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