Princess della Cisterna, the future bride of Prince Amadeus, has already received magnificent wedding gifts from all the sovereigns of Europe, that of the King and Queen of Belgium being specially remarkable. Lady's Own Paper - Saturday 11 May 1867
"Preparations are now being actively made for the marriage of Prince Amadeus. The ladies of Bruessels intend to present to the princess a splended diadem of exquisite workmanship."
The King has sent to the young lady a necklace of pearls and diamonds of the value of more than 100,000f.
Duke of Aosta - The Marriage of the Son of the King of Italy | May 1867
A Turin letter of the 31st May, published in the Moniteur, gives some further details of the proceedings at the Duke of Aosta’s marriage. It says :
The King entered the large ball room of the palace at Torino in the evening of the 28th, giving his arm to the young Princess della Cisterna, whom the Prince de Carignan and the Princess Clotilda had brought from her own residence. The bride in a white moiré dress with precious Malinen - lace from Mechelen - Belgium - and pearl parure.
His Majesty then seated himself, and all the Royal family took places around. The King, his sons, Prince Napoleon, and Prince de Caripnan wore in uniform; the Queen of Portugal, the Princess Clotilda, and the Duchess of Genoa, in full dress, with court manteau, and covered with precious stones.
The Princess della Cisterna was also in a court costume, but of great simplicity. Count Campello, Minister of Foreign Affairs, road aloud the marriage contract.
Principal clauses are : Separation of property-200,000f. income secured to the bride and bridegroom during the lifetime of the Princess Mother—gift of one million in money—and 50,0001. peraunum for the toilette of the young Duchess.
The document enumerates the vast possessions of the Cistorna family, situated in several provinces of Italy and Belgium. After the reading bad terminated, the King signed the first, the members the Royal family and the witnesses next. the 30th, the Prince of Carignano and the Princess Clotilda wont in gala carriages, at ten o’clock, to bring the young bride from her hotel.
At half-past ten the Duke of Aosta and the Princess della Ciaterna wore married civilly by the President of the Senate, according to the now Italian Civil Code, which reproduces textually the disposition of that of Napoleon. Before replying in the affirmative, the Duke turned round to the King, his father, to ask his consent, and the bride did the same to the Princess Clotilda, who bad kindly volunteered to represent her mother. In pronouncing the yes’ which introduced her into the Royal House of Savoy, Maria della Cistorna was unable to subdue her emotion, and her countenance was bathed in tears, but she was soon afterwards restored to serenity by the gracious and friendly attentions of the Queen of Portugal and the Princess Clotilda.
At eleven o'clock the newly-married pair proceeded to the private chapel of the King through the ranks of a crowd composed of all classes, animated with the most sympathetic fooling towards the young couple. the nuptial benediction was given the Archbishop of Turin, assisted several bishops. In the evening grand dinner took place at the Court the fine Hall of Arms.
After the banquet serenade was given to the Duchess of Aosta by the bands of the National Guard and garrison united. crowd of persons closely packed, but without the slightest disorder, filled vast court of the palace ami the open square in front, which was splendidly illuminated. At nine the King and Royal family retired to their apartments, and at ten the now married pair, in travelling attire, passed through the crowd I in an open caniagoon their way to the Chateau of Palazzina di Caccia di Stupinigi in Turin, where they to stay for few days. Prince Humbert accompanied the equipage on horseback.
The Queen Portugal also set out for the sumo residence, where brilliant reception had been prepared for the Duke and Duchess. The occasion of the marriage of bis second son the King accorded several pardons and favours. The Marquis Breme, grand master ceremonies, widower from a first marriage with sister the Prince della Cisterna, and therefore undo of the bride, was made duke de Sartirana. Prince Napoleon left this morning for Bologna, and is expected to be absent eight or ten days.”
Dating to the second half of the 19th century, the tiara hails an extraordinary provenance, having belonged to two Royal Collections of Europe.
Likely to have been presented to Maria Vittoria dal Pozzo as a wedding gift on the occasion of her marriage to Amadeo I of Savoy, Duke of Aoste, later King of Spain (1870-1873) in 1867, the tiara, which has remained with the family for over 150 years, is believed to have been created by Musy Padre e Figli – Court Jeweller of Turin, and one of the oldest goldsmiths in Europe.
The tiara are composed of graduated scroll motifs set with cushion-shaped, circular- and single-cut diamonds, framing eleven slightly baroque drop-shaped natural pearls, the jewel has more recently been seen worn as an elegant necklace.
Having remained in the royal family of Italy for over 150 years, the jewel comes to the market at a time of eneva, 31st March 2021 – This Spring, a magnificent tiara passed down through generations of the Royal familyof Italy will star as a highlight of Sotheby’s flagship “Magnificent Jewels and Noble Jewels” auction in Geneva on 11 May. Steeped in the rich history of the House of Savoy, among the world’s oldest royal families, the jewel in natural pearls and diamonds is one of the most important tiaras to appear on the market in recent years and will be offered with an estimate of $1-1.5 million (CHF 930,000 -1,395,000).
Source: Hampshire Telegraph;Foreign Courts Lady's Own Paper;Southern Reporter and Cork Commercial Courier; Archive Ursula Butschal;The Durham County Advertiser;Illustrierte Zeitung;Sotheby's;
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