Canalblog
Editer l'article Suivre ce blog Administration + Créer mon blog
Publicité
Alain.R.Truong
Alain.R.Truong
Publicité
Visiteurs
Depuis la création 50 863 684
Archives
Newsletter
Alain.R.Truong
30 juin 2012

"Diamonds: A Jubilee Celebration" @ The State Rooms, Buckingham Palace; London

 diamondsarticle_0_13D57896000005DC_798_964x641

LONDON.- More than 10,000 diamonds set in works acquired by six monarchs over three centuries go on display at Buckingham Palace to mark Her Majesty The Queen’s 60-year reign. The special exhibition Diamonds: A Jubilee Celebration (30 June – 8 July & 31 July – 7 October) includes a number of The Queen’s personal jewels and works from the Royal Collection chosen for their artistic significance and their historic importance, and for the supreme skill in diamond cutting and mounting they embody.

Several pieces of jewellery, such as the Delhi Durbar Tiara, Queen Victoria’s Fringe Brooch and the Kokoshnik Tiara, are on display for the first time. The exhibition also includes jewellery made from the world’s largest diamond, the Cullinan Diamond, which weighed 3,106 carats as an uncut stone. Pieces containing seven of the nine principal stones cut from the Cullinan Diamond are reunited for the first time. They include the Cullinan III and IV Brooch, worn by The Queen for the National Service of Thanksgiving for Her Majesty’s Diamond Jubilee, at St Paul’s Cathedral, on 5 June 2012.

Diamond, the hardest natural material known, has for centuries carried associations of endurance and longevity. These qualities, allied to the purity, magnificence and value of the stones, have led rulers to deploy diamonds in regalia, jewellery and precious objects. Individual diamonds have achieved great renown, passing down the generations and between enemies or allies as potent symbols of sovereignty and as precious gifts. Many of these extraordinary stones have undergone a number of transformations during their history, having been re-cut or incorporated into new settings as fashions and tastes have changed.

The exhibition includes several pieces commissioned by Queen Victoria, the only other monarch to celebrate a Diamond Jubilee. They include the magnificent Coronation Necklace created for her and subsequently worn by Queen Alexandra, Queen Mary, Queen Elizabeth (The Queen Mother) and Her Majesty The Queen at their coronations. Also on display is the beautiful miniature crown worn by Queen Victoria for her official Diamond Jubilee portrait in 1897. The crown’s 1,187 diamonds give it a grandeur that belies its tiny proportions – it measures just 9 x 10cm.

During The Queen’s reign, diamonds acquired by previous monarchs have continued to play an important role on State and ceremonial occasions. The Diamond Diadem, made for the famously extravagant coronation of George IV in 1821, has been worn by The Queen to and from theState Opening of Parliament since the first of her reign. Set with 1,333 brilliant-cut diamonds, it is one of Her Majesty’s most widely recognised pieces of jewellery, appearing on British and Commonwealth stamps and also on certain issues of banknotes and coinage.

Among items of The Queen’s personal jewellery are a number of pieces marking important events in Her Majesty’s life. The South Africa Necklace was presented to the then Princess Elizabeth on her 21st birthday in 1947. The Williamson Brooch incorporates at its centre what is considered to be the finest pink diamond ever discovered. The diamond was found in Tanzania in 1947 by the Canadian geologist Dr JT Williamson, who gave the uncut stone to Princess Elizabeth for her wedding in November that year.

The exhibition also includes historic objects that show the skill and ingenuity with which diamonds have been used in different cultures and traditions. They include the exquisite 18th-century bloodstone box made for King Frederick the Great of Prussia. The box incorporates nearly 3,000 diamonds arranged pictorially to represent flowers, insects and musical instruments. The Jaipur Sword was presented to King Edward VII for his coronation in 1902 by the Maharajah of Jaipur. It is set with 719 diamonds, weighing a total of 2,000 carats.

Exhibition curator Caroline de Guitaut said, ‘The exhibition shows how over the past three centuries monarchs have used diamonds to display magnificence, whether in personal adornment or as a statement of power. Each piece demonstrates breathtaking workmanship and extraordinary ingenuity in design. Diamonds have of course long been associated with endurance and longevity, so this is a very fitting way to mark Her Majesty’s 60 years on the throne.’ 

Diamond_20Diadem

Diamond_20Diadem

The Diamond Diadem. Rundell, Bridge & Rundell, 1820. Diamonds, pearls, silver, gold; 7.5 cm high; 19 cm diameter. Royal Collection © Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II

rcin_67134

George IV's Diamond-Hilted Sword. Rundell Bridge & Rundell, c.1750 and 1820. Steel, gold, diamonds. Royal Collection © Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II

Queen_Elizabeth_II_diamond_jubilee_small_diamond_crown_victory_img_9_540x446

3Victorias_Small_Diamond_Crown_510x395

Queen Victoria's Small Diamond Crown. R. & S. Garrard & Co.,1870. Silver, diamonds; 9.9 cm. Royal Collection © Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II

Queen_Victorias_Fringe_Brooch

Queen Victoria's Fringe Brooch.  Attributed to R. & S. Garrard & Co., 1856. Diamonds, silver, gold; 12.6 × 5 cm.  Royal Collection © Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II

6CoronationNecklace

The Coronation Necklace, R.  & S. Garrard & Co., 1858. Diamonds, silver, gold, platinum; 38.1 cm long. Royal Collection © Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II

QueenVictoriCoronationNecklace

The Coronation Earrings, R. & S. Garrard & Co., 1858. Diamonds, silver, gold. 4.5 × 1.8 cm; 4.5 × 1.6 cm

KokoshnikTiara

Queen Alexandra's Kokoshnik Tiara. R. & S. Garrard & Co., 1888. Diamonds, white and yellow gold; 6.5 × 18.5 cm

11288_233731_LPR_0

11288_233734_LPR_1

Jaipur Sword and Scabbard. India, 1902. Gold, coloured enamel, diamonds, steel. Sword 88.5 cm, Scabbard 89.7 cm. Royal Collection © Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II

31712_150026_LPR_1

Cullinan I - The Sovereign's Sceptre. Sir Robert Viner, 1st Baronet, 1661. Gold, diamonds, emeralds, rubies, sapphires, spinels, amethyst, enamel. Royal Collection © Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II

diamond_jubilee_for_queen_elizabeth_ii_and_di_L_V2UlIp

Cullinan II - The Imperial State Crown. Garrard & Co., 1937. Gold, platinum, silver, diamonds, rubies, emeralds, sapphires, spinel, pearls, velvet, ermine. Royal Collection © Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II

Cullinan3_4

Cullinan III and IV Brooch. Carrington & Co., 1911. Diamonds, platinum; 6.5 × 2.4 cm. Royal Collection © Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II

_Brooch

Cullinan V Brooch. Garrard & Co. Ltd, 1911. Diamonds, platinum. 4.5 × 4.3 cm. Royal Collection

5CullinanVI

Cullinan VI and VIII Brooch. Garrard & Co. Ltd, 1911. Diamonds, platinum; 6.2 × 3.1 cm. Royal Collection © Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II

200134_p175_Delhi_Durbar_Necklace_051

Delhi Durbar Necklace with Cullinan VII Pendant. Garrard & Co. Ltd, 1911. Diamonds, emeralds, platinum, gold; 46 cm long.  Royal Collection © Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II

250527_Queen_Marys_Cullinan_9_Ring_01

Cullinan IX Ring. Attributed to Garrard & Co. Ltd, c.1911. Diamond, platinum; 2.2 × 1.8 cm.  Royal Collection © Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II

2Girls_of_GB_Tiara_510x377

Queen Mary's Girls of Great Britain and Ireland Tiara. E. Wolff & Co.1 for R. & S. Garrard & Co., 1893.. Diamonds, silver, gold; 7 × 21 cm.  Royal Collection © Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II

Snuff_box_made_for_King_Frederick_the_Great_of_Prussia_c

Table Snuff Box of Frederick the Great of Prussia. Fabrique Royale [Berlin], c.1770-75. Bloodstone, vari-coloured gold, foiled diamonds; 5.1 x 10.7 x 8.5 cm. Royal Collection © Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II

delhi_durbar_tiara

Delhi Durbar Tiara. Garrard & Co. Ltd, 1911 and 1912. Diamonds, platinum, gold; 8 × 23 cm. Royal Collection © Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II

_61238923_thequeen_ssouthafricannecklace067

The Queen's South Africa necklace and bracelet. Garrard & Co., 1947 and 1952. Diamonds, platinum. Necklace: 40.5 cm long; bracelet: 17 cm long. Royal Collection © Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II

Williamson_brooch

The Queen's Williamson Diamond Brooch.. Cartier, London, 1953. Diamonds, platinum; 10 × 5.5 cm; signed: Cartier London. Royal Collection © Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II 

article_957a2709b711013e_1340980166_9j_4aaqsk

The Diamond Diadem was made for George IV's coronation in 1821. Credit: ITN

7cc38b13580b35220adf3a88e50bf024

The Diamond Diadem Tiara at the Diamonds: A Jubilee Celebration exhibition preview on June 28, 2012 in London, England. Photo credit: Photo by Bethany Clarke/Getty Images

article_37f8b006c7343a50_1340980184_9j_4aaqsk

A diamond-hilted sword that belonged to George IV. Credit: ITN

article_8c45133e84778ce7_1340980192_9j_4aaqsk

The Small Diamond Crown belonged to Queen Victoria. Credit: ITN

d0d9b62c916d824ce0783123c985b88b

Queen Victoria's Small Diamond Crown at the Diamonds: A Jubilee Celebration exhibition preview on June 28, 2012 in London, England. Credit: SofiaAmbrosia with photo by Peter Macdiarmid/Getty Images

19c4eb68b911ae88c846f109c0bcba26

Commonwealth Brooch and earrings at the Diamonds: A Jubilee Celebration exhibition preview on June 28, 2012 in London, England. Credit: SofiaAmbrosia with photos by Bethany Clarke/Getty Images

e0aa26dc228783175613a9c4f4f1550d

Commonwealth necklace and dangling diamond earrings at the Diamonds: A Jubilee Celebration exhibition preview on June 28, 2012 in London, England. Credit: SofiaAmbrosia with photos by Bethany Clarke/Getty Images

article_c366864447262125_1340981085_9j_4aaqsk

The diamonds belonged to six monarchs over the past 300 years. Photo: ITN

53983bcd39acab7a8e4cced12d6c7583

Curator Caroline de Guitaut holds the Delhi Durbar Tiara at the Diamonds: A Jubilee Celebration exhibition preview on June 28, 2012 in London, England. Credit: SofiaAmbrosia with photos by Bethany Clarke/Getty Images

5ed644069d4e4239dce40be51455a505

Delhi Durbar Necklace at the Diamonds: A Jubilee Celebration exhibition preview on June 28, 2012 in London, England. Credit: SofiaAmbrosia with photos by Bethany Clarke/Getty Images

2667178de7fc3344a81e90b024ad87e2

Cullinan III and IV Broach at the Diamonds: A Jubilee Celebration exhibition preview on June 28, 2012 in London, England. Credit: SofiaAmbrosia with photo by Peter Macdiarmid/Getty Images

Publicité
Publicité
Commentaires
Publicité