The tiara gets its name from its original owner: Florence Bampfylde, Lady Poltimore. It could transform into a necklace (which is how Margaret wore it, in 1960) or, if one wished, 11 different brooches. Thought it had been purchased only a short time before the 1960 wedding, it immediately became infused with the royal aura. The diamond scrolls were meant to emulate flora and nature. The Princess wore the tiara in its form as a splendid fringe necklace on several occasions before her actual marriage, and also as a necklace and brooches on many State and official functions throughout the rest of her life. "Getting rid of anything is not my natural habitat," he added. Ad vertisement from shop rosecutjewelryshop. We may earn commission on some of the items you choose to buy. Her tiara was the largest in her collection and featured a bouffant-style top. Lady Glenconner writes, "She looked dazzling in it. In 2002, a Poltimore Tiara was auctioned off for more than 900,000 following its death. The Poltimore tiara originally belonged to Lady Poltimore, who bought the bedazzled diadem from royal jeweler Garrard back in 1870. The diamond scrolls evoke flora and nature. Traditionally, Queen Elizabeth II would loan out crown jewels to brides for their royal weddings: she did so for Kate Middleton, Meghan Markle, Princess Eugenie, and Princess Beatrice, among others. Known as the Poltimore Tiara, it originally belonged to Lady Poltimore, the wife of the second Baron Poltimore. The tiara was sold at auction in 2010 for 935,000. The tiara was uniquely designed as a closed circuit, as compared to other royal tiaras that are semi-circular in shape and do not actually encircle the entire head. From what producers have revealed, season 3 of The Crown will span the years 1963-1977 of the Queens reign, covering the Queens late 30s to mid-40s. The high end of the auction estimate was set at about $350,000, but it ended up selling to a private buyer for a staggering $1.7 million. Sign up for The Court Jeweller Newsletter, Sparkling Royal Jewels From Around the World, 06.23.2018 by The Court Jeweller // Leave a Comment. It became the most-associated tiara with Princess Margaret, says Prentice. For starters, Margaret's decision to marry the society photographer made her the first daughter of a British king to marry a "commoner" in hundreds of years. Yet it was on her wedding day, arriving at Westminster Abbey by horse-drawn carriage, that H.R.H. Lady Poltimore bought the tiara from Garrard, the royal jewellers, in 1870, and wore it for the coronation of King George V in 1911. And while this was unusual enough, there was another way Margaret broke with tradition. Princess Margaret wasn't shy about wearing the tiara either, showing it off during a state visit of the Shah of Iran in May 1959 (before she was even engaged). the Poltimore Tiara was made in 1870 by the House of Garrard in a classic Victorian-era jewelry style. The Poltimore, with its floral and scroll elements, may not have been made for Margarets swinging 60s beehive hairdo, but when the two came together, it was tiara kismet. She also wore it to the Royal Opera House later that year as a necklace. You know the picture: Princess Margaret, lying in a bathtub, wearing nothing but a tiara perched upon her head. "She was an independent minded princess, very much of her time, the culturally roiled and transformative 1960s and 1970s. The Poltimore tiara, a one-of-a-kind piece of jewelry, can be worn in a variety of ways and is a versatile piece of jewelry. Princess Margaret was known for wearing the Poltimore Tiara, one of her most famous pieces of jewelry. Materials: diamonds set in silver and gold. The Tiara became a favourite of Princess Margaret, who wore it as a necklace, and even in the bath. Princess Margarets children went on to become successful artists, each having two children of their own. For those wondering, investiture is a centuries-old ceremony where the king or queens eldest child is formally acknowledged as the Prince of Wales (next in line for the throne). There is no way of knowing whether any other royals have ever worn the Poltimore tiara because it is such an unusual addition to the collection. Now it was part of history. Were finding more and more now that women are purchasing for themselves, but way back in 1959, she chose it for herself. Hinged lid opens to interior compartment for hiding your secret treasures PICK UP IN PIERREFONDS Many believe she had the best eye for jewelry in the palace. Experts now believe that the piece could be worth up to 3 million. Embed from Getty Images British Royal Jewelry From Recent History Harper's BAZAAR, , , , 19591, 187018721874, , Netflix, , USA, 1960, No.2410cm3Town & Country155cm, , , , 196070, , 1961, , 200242The Telegraph, , 263592640015000300, Translation: Mitsuko Kanno From Town & Country US, 5 , , , . The late Princess Margaret, Countess of Snowdon would have turned 87 next week. The most famous occasion when Princess Margaret wore the Tiara was at her 1960 wedding to Antony Armstrong Jones at Westminster Abbey, when she paired the Tiara with her Norman Hartnell gown. An item that was once worn by Princess Margaret was up for bid on eBay. Made in 1870 by the House of Garrard in London, its the epitome of Victorian-era jewelry style: The diamond scrolls evoke flora, flowers, and nature. Garrard designed it so that it could be worn as a necklace or as 11 separate brooches. The Poltimore Tiara, with diamond scrolls evoking flora, flowers, and nature, is the epitome of Victorian-era jewelry. It's not known whether other royals have ever worn the Poltimore tiara, but it seems rather unlikely given its unusual entrance into the royal family's collection. The tiara appears to be a valuable piece of jewelry based on its historical connections. Hearst Magazine Media, Inc. All Rights Reserved. The tiara was originally made in 1870 by Garrard for Lady Poltimore, the wife of the second Baron Poltimore, treasurer to Queen Victoria's household from 1872 to 1874. Kokoshnik refers to the style of the tiara, one that was very popular in the late 19th century (and is coming back in style today!). The auction also included a diamond necklace that belonged to Princess Margaret and was given to her by her husband, Lord Snowdon. Thats a seriously convertible sparkler. Not wanting to cause a stir with the former king, a new coronet was designed for Prince Charles to wear, designed by Louis Osman and gifted to the Queen by the Worshipful Company of Goldsmiths. It was made for Lady Poltimore by Garrard around 1870, and it can be either worn as a tiara or broken down into a necklace and a whopping eleven brooches. Why not? Legend has it Margaret bought the tiara, but there is actually some debate about that fact: It was purchased for her at auction in January 1959. In the full-length trailer, we see the Queen in a horse-drawn carriage on her way to her Silver Jubilee celebrations wearing the Williamson Jonquil brooch. The Tiara and Diamond Hoop Necklace were pictured on the 2nd Duchess at the Coronation of King George V in 1911, though it is not known if both jewels were still in her possession or on loan from Queen Mary, who acquired both pieces from her brother and sister-in-law at some point. With the Lotus Flower Tiara and her pearl and diamond earrings, she wore the necklace setting of the tiara. Eleven years later, the portrait was removed from public view. In 1856, Edward Poltimore, 1st Baron Poltimore, married Harriet Grosvenor, the eldest daughter of Hugh Lupus Grosvenor, 1st Duke of Westminster. NFL Player Earl Thomas Ahead of Bridal Fashion Week? The Poltimore Tiara, with diamond scrolls evoking flora, flowers, and nature, is the epitome of Victorian-era jewelry. The Princess Margaret to Mr Antony Armstrong-Jones. Email This BlogThis! Margaret Bampfylde. She was such a beautiful lady and this tiara fit her perfectly. For Sale on 1stDibs - Haute-joaillerie diamond necklace riviera style with a diamond pendant. That iconic photo of her in the bathtub wearing nothing but the tiara is absolutely amazing! The brooch, one of the Queens favorites, includes 170 small brilliant-cut, 12 baguette-cut and 21 marquise diamonds. To revisit this article, visit My Profile, then View saved stories, To revisit this article, select My Account, thenView saved stories. This was certainly the case when she married society photographer and ladies man, Anthony Armstrong-Jones, not only becoming the first daughter of a King to marry a commoner in hundreds of years, but also breaking protocol in her choice of tiara. As the set was given to the Queen as a present for her coronation by the president of Brazil, the gemstones were sourced in Brazil and are set in scrolled diamond and platinum surrounds. The latest fashion news, beauty coverage, celebrity style, fashion week updates, culture reviews, and videos on Vogue.com. She even wore it before she was engaged for the state visit of the Shah of Iran in May 1959. Poltimore Tiara. The Poltimore tiara, a one-of-a-kind piece of jewelry, can be worn in a variety of ways and is a versatile piece of jewelry. And the Poltimore tiara, estimated to sell at Christies for $350,000, saw the hammer go down at $1.7 million. Despite having access to the crown jewels (the Duchess of Cambridge, for example, wears tiaras lent to her by the queen) the then 29-year-old wanted something she could call her own. Fans of Netflix series The Crown have become well-acquainted with Princess Margaret, Countess of Snowdon, younger sister of the Queen, and wild child of the royal family. It featured, according to its Christie's listing, an entire row of "cushion-shaped and old-cut diamond clusters alternating with diamond-set scroll motifs, each surmounted by old-cut diamond terminals.". Beautiful, stylish and somewhat rebellious, Princess Margaret was known for doing things her own way, which often meant she broke with royal tradition. The Poltimore Tiara was a special piece. Once introduced by Lord Snowdon, HRH visited the jewelers workshops and galleries, helped launch new collections, promoted their jewelry among the Windsors, and commissioned new works, sometimes offering her own gemstones. Its such a modern thing, Sara Prentice, creative director at the House of Garrard, tells Vogue. About Worthy Press A post shared by European Royal Families (@euroroyals) on Aug 9, 2017 at 9:03pm PDT. According to its Christie's listing, one only needs a small screwdriver to reconfigure the diamond tiara. On June 13, 2006, Christies auctioned off an estate with paintings, furniture, and other items, as well as Princess Margarets tiara. She has been seen wearing the Poltimore Tiara, the fringe tiara, and the Boucheron tiara at various royal events. When worn, the tiara almost appears to float. Margaret wore the Poltimore tiara to her wedding to Antony Armstrong-Jones. The tiara, which cost 926,400, was the most expensive tiara in the world. The tiara was purchasesed upon the recommendation of Lord Plunket, who was Deputy Master of the Household from 1954 to 1975. With the upcoming premiere of Netflixs The Crown, we thought this was an excellent opportunity to revisit the Queens jewelry collection, taking a look at the pieces know will be featured in this seasons episode and what else we can expect when it comes to the royal jewelry collection. Taken by her husband, the famed photographer Antony Armstrong-Jones, the photo was only released to the public in 2006, four years after Margarets death. Editor-in-Chief Stellene Volandes is a jewelry expert, and the author of Jeweler: Masters and Mavericks of Modern Design (Rizzoli). Besides the trailer, there will be plenty of other beautiful outfits and jewelry to see in the upcoming season. But for Princess Margaretand later on, for Diana, Princess of Waleschoosing their own tiaras for their wedding days would be seen as a big assertion of their place within the House of Windsor. She was famously photographed wearing it, complete with a full . Jewelry collections reflect quite intimately the persona of their collector. maximum diameter, convertible to a necklace and eleven brooches, with screwdriver and brooch fittings, in fitted blue leather case Receive more articles like this, straight to your inbox. Dismore. Yet it was on her wedding day, arriving at Westminster Abbey by horse-drawn carriage, that H.R.H. The diadem has a rich history. The images of the Poltimore at the royal wedding (and in the bathtub) added to its new royal provenance. The Girls of Great Britain and Ireland Tiara was given to Princess May of Teck (later Queen Mary, Queen Elizabeths grandmother) as a wedding present by a committee of women. Known as the Poltimore Tiara, it originally belonged to Lady Poltimore, the wife of the second Baron Poltimore. The Poltimores put it up for auction in January 1959, when Margaret bought it for 5,500 pounds. She must have loved it to do that.. She also used one of the brooches from the tiara to secure her order sash. Princess Margaret chats with John Donald at the party for the opening of his new shop, John Donald at Tecla, in London, 1969. Sign up on The Knot to reach more couples and book more weddings! When Princess Margaret died in 2002, her children inherited her jewelry collection. How to Cope With Uncertainty in Your Relationship, What We Learned From Our Chosen Families While Engaged, Jada Pinkett Smith Realizes She Doesn't Know Will Smith at All, A Look Back at Princess Margaret's Timeless Wedding Gown, Sofia Vergara's Glamorous Two-in-One Wedding Look, How Rayna Jaymes' Wedding Dress on 'Nashville' Was Made. This is because the framework is laced with a brown ribbon, meant to match Margarets hair color. Christies auctioned off a white gold and diamond tiara made of Poltimore in 2002 for 926,400 pounds (now worth around $1.1 million). Margaret passed away in 2002 and her two children were hit with an estate tax bill in 2006. If ever there was a tiara match made in heaven, it was Princess Margaret and this whopper of a tiara. There are some interesting rules in how the investiture coronet should look. Following Margaret's royal wedding in 1960, the Poltimore tiara made another memorable appearance in a 1962 photograph. It is not absolutely clear whether Margaret, her sister the Queen, or her mother actually paid for it, says Mahnaz Ispahani Bartos, a vintage jewelry dealer and scholar with a particular expertise on Princess Margaret. As a tiara, it can also be worn in its full glory or in a slightly smaller version. Princess Margaret, Countess Snowdon, will celebrate her 87th birthday next week. Garrard designed it so that it could be worn as a necklace or as 11 separate brooches. Known as the Poltimore Tiara, it originally belonged to Lady Poltimore, the wife of the second Baron Poltimore. Princess Margarets daughter, who inherited the jewelry from her mother, wore it on her wedding ring and necklace. Princess Margaret showed off the versatility of her new tiara on July 7, 1959, when she wore the jewel for an event at the Guildhall in London. Lord Snowdons work was displayed for the first time in 2006 during an exhibition of his work. She must've loved it to do that." However, it was sold at Christies in 2002 for 926,400 pounds (now worth around $1.1 million) to help Princess Margarets children deal with estate tax. The Poltimore Tiara - Margarets headpiece of choice - was purchased by her from the grandson of the original owner, the 4th Baron Poltimore, who sold it to her at auction in 1959 for 5,500. Another interesting feature of the tiara was that it sat very high on the headand Garrard had intentionally designed it to do so. The large scrolls can be worn as brooches, and the clusters can also form a necklace. Then, she wore it again to an event at the Royal Opera House later that year, though she altered it as a necklace for the latter event. Embed from Getty Images British Royal Jewelry From Recent History But the image remained ingrained in minds everywhere so much so that The Crown included a scene about it in season three. Prentice surmises that such a piece took around six months to make. After Margaret's death, her children, Earl Snowdon and Lady Sarah Chatto, sold the tiara off in an auction for 926,400. THE 'POLTIMORE TIARA' Designed as a graduated line of cushion-shaped and old-cut diamond clusters alternating with diamond-set scroll motifs, each surmounted by old-cut diamond terminals, to the collet-set diamond line, mounted in silver and gold, circa 1870, 19.2 cm. All rights reserved. Her husband gave the Halo Scroll Tiara to her as a wedding gift in 1936. 5 Years Into Life As A Parent, 11 Things I Wish Id Known From The Start, Naomi Campbell Reminded Everyone What Supermodel Means At Paris Fashion Week, To Hell With The Rules: Long Hair Is Now The Go-To Style For The Over 50s, 12 Statement-Making Pieces Of Emerald Jewellery, How The Royals Have Worn The Queens Heirloom Tiaras, This New Made-in-Italy Fashion and Lifestyle Platform Is Digitising la Dolce Vita, 9 Classic Novels The Duchess Of Cambridge Keeps On Her Desk, Jacinda Arderns Leadership Is Unshakable (Even During An Earthquake), Everything You Need To Know About Timothe Chalamets 2020 So Far, The Great Might Be The Most Stylish Period Drama Since Marie Antoinette, How Wallis Simpson Inspired A Jewellery Icon, Duchess of Cambridge, for example, wears tiaras lent to her by the Queen. It should come as no surprise, then, that her 1960 wedding to Antony Armstrong-Jones was no different, including Princess Margaret's chosen wedding tiara. Her royal wedding to Antony Armstrong-Jones was broadcast live on television, and she gave birth to two children, David and Sarah, shortly after. This piece was made by Garrard in 1870 for Lady Poltimore, the second Baron Poltimores wife and treasurer to Queen Victorias household from 1872 to 1874. Of course, later in life it would become most synonymous with that famous image of her in the bathtub, wearing nothing but the Poltimore, which was taken by her husband and formed a storyline in the most recent series of The Crown. Lady Poltimore bought the tiara from Garrard, the royal jewellers, in 1870, and wore it for the coronation of King George V in 1911. It was sold at auction by Christies in 2007 for $1.7 million. A white gold and diamond tiara sold for 926,400 pounds (around $1.1 million) at Christies in 2002 to a private buyer. Gucci Handbags 101: A Guide to Shopping Their Iconic Bags, From the Jackie to the Bamboo 1947, Just One Thing: How a Single Brooch Can Be Worn Many Wonderous Ways. When Queen Mary commissioned this tiara during the interwar years, it was never worn publicly until 1965. The tiara Princess Margaret wears on her wedding day was purchased before the ceremony. The Brazilian Aquamarine and Diamond Set includes a pair of earrings and a necklace, both featuring large rectangle aquamarines. In 1959, Baron Poltimore auctioned the Tiara for 5,500, when it was bought by Princess Margaret, who wore it for the first time at an Opera Performance for the Shah of Iran. Donald noted her interest in modern design and craftsmanship. It could be broken down into a necklace and 11 different brooches. The Queen Alexandra Kokoshnik Tiara was given to Queen Alexandra on her 25th wedding anniversary is 1888. The platinum bandeau tiara is a beautiful piece of jewelry and is said to have belonged to Queen Mary in 1932. The tiara was acquired by Princess Margaret prior to the official announcement of her engagement to Antony Armstrong-Jones, and she can be seen wearing it prior to the wedding in the form of a necklace. HRH the Princess Margaret collected jewelry which reflected eclectic, to some even contradictory, tastes, ranging from Londons avant garde contemporary jewelry, to classic four strand pearls, to grand diamond necklaces and tiaras, says Bartos, who in addition to being an expert on Princess Margaret, is an authority on London jewelers of her time. The tiara was originally made for Lady Poltimore by Garrard, and Princess Margaret purchased it for 5,500. "There were many, many reasons, mostly financial, that persuaded us that that was the correct route because, you know, when people die, taxes need to be paid," her son told The Telegraph at the time. Now worn often by Queen Elizabeth, the tiaras design has been tweaked a few times by royal jeweler Garrard and includes, among the many diamonds, 13 round brilliant diamonds. "Nashville" costume designer Susie DeSanto told us all about how she created a custom wedding gown for Rayna Jaymes. Christie's sold the tiara for a record-breaking 1.25 million in 2017. The Princess wore the tiara in its form as a splendid fringe necklace on several occasions before her actual marriage, and also as a necklace and. The tiara was made of diamond scrolls set in a gold-and-silver metal frame. The offerings included the Poltimore Tiara, which went for 926,400 pounds (now around $1.1 million) to a private buyer. Being quite a tall tiara, the Poltimore gave the princess some much-desired extra height for the event. . Princess Margaret did wear the tiara as a fringe necklace often in public, both before and after her 1960 wedding. Princess Margaret on her wedding day in May 1960, wearing the Poltimore Tiara. Unlike other tiaras that were made or received by the royals as gifts, it is believed that the Princess bought this tiara for herself for her wedding. Princess Margaret on her wedding day in May 1960, wearing the Poltimore Tiara. Margarets children put the piece up for auction at Christies in London on June 13, 2006 as part of the effort to raise funds for exorbitant inheritance taxes, along with approximately 90 other jewels and a large number of other items of her personal wealth. Despite having access to the crown jewels (the Duchess of Cambridge, for example, wears tiaras lent to her by the Queen) the then 29-year-old Margaret wanted something she could call her own. What Does Harry and Meghans Eviction From Frogmore Cottage Mean for Their Future in the U.K.? The diamond-encrusted figures include 4 crosses-patte (a Christian symbol) and 4 floral sprays that represent the national emblems of the UK. In 1902, Lady Poltimore wore her tiara at the Coronation of King Edward VII in Westminster Abbey.if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[300,250],'royalwatcherblog_com-banner-1','ezslot_2',648,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-royalwatcherblog_com-banner-1-0'); In 1953, at a Royal Opera Performance held on the eve of the Coronation of Queen Elizabeth II, the Poltimore Tiara was worn by an unknown lady, probably LadyStucley, daughter of the 4th BaronPoltimore. Dare we say he's a step ahead of the trends? Princess Margaret wore the tiara as a fringe necklace frequently, and it now has a value of 39,300. A fittingly grandiose price for an absolutely stupendously grand tiara, if you ask me. The auction house estimates that it will sell for between $70,000 and $93,000, with an additional value of $150,000 to $175,000. The Poltimore Tiara - Margaret's headpiece of choice - was purchased by her from the grandson of the original owner, the 4th Baron Poltimore, who sold it to her at auction in 1959 for 5,500. Were saluting her birthday by featuring her Poltimore Tiara. Her husband even famously photographed her wearing it in her bathtub! Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our User Agreement and Privacy Policy and Cookie Statement and Your California Privacy Rights. It was sold at auction by Christie's in 2007 for $1.7 million. Her children sold it for 926,400 ($1,704,576) after her death. She also appeared in the films The Railway Children (1970) and The Spy Who Loved Me (1977). Equal parts coquettish and cheeky, it cemented the princesss status as the royal familys forever wild child. She was always Maam. ThePoltimore Tiara, already a trademark, was worn to many ofPrincess Margarets final tiara events, including the Heads of State Banquet for VE Day in 1995 and the State Opening of Parliament in 1996. if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[300,250],'royalwatcherblog_com-large-mobile-banner-1','ezslot_4',619,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-royalwatcherblog_com-large-mobile-banner-1-0');After her death in 2002, thePoltimore Tiara was inherited by her children, Lord Linley and Lady Sarah Chatto, who had to sell some of her jewelsin order to pay the inheritance taxes on her estate. Sothebys Hong Kong will host a Magnificent Jewels auction on July 10, during which this piece will be auctioned off. brooches. Even though she wore other tiaras throughout her life, the Poltimore became the diadem most closely associated with her. Lady Poltimores grandson, the 4th Baron Poltimore, offered the tiara for sale at auction in 1959. This diadem was originally created for George IV in 1821 for his coronation but has since traditionally been worn by queens and queen consorts for very special occasions, such as the opening of Parliament and coronations. Originally, made for Lady Poltimore, wife of the second Baron Poltimore, was sold by the daughter of the fourth Baron Poltimore, Honorable Lady Stucley. How much money did Princess Margaret inherit from her father, Prince Charles? The striking tiara may have also served another purpose: It added some height. Bigger than life in every way: Diane von Furstenberg on Andr Leon Talley. There, it was purchased for 5,500 pounds by Princess Margaret. She also rather famously wore it in a bathtub at Kensington Palace, in a photograph taken by her husband Lord Snowdon. Every item on this page was chosen by a Town & Country editor. Antony-Armstrong Jones and Princess Margaret on their wedding day, May 6, 1960, Princess Margaret greets actor Laurence Harvey and actress Mia Farrow at the Royal Film Performance of the film. The Story Behind Kim Kardashians Engagement Ring, Top 10 Featured Jewelry Auctions in February 2019, Top 10 Featured Auctions in September 2020, Introducing Season 3 of Divorce & Other Things You Can Handle, Top 10 Featured Auctions From November 2019. Its whereabouts are unknown. One just woke up like this #princessmargaret #poltimoretiara #royalsoak #famous #glamour, A post shared by Watson & Company (@watsonnyc) on May 28, 2015 at 5:25am PDT. She also loved the work of Stuart Devlin, and her favorite was John Donald, whom she first visited with her mother in 1961. Aside from Lady Poltimore, the original owner of the tiara, the Poltimore tiara is most closely linked to Princess Margaret. So lets call this my own contribution to what episode two of season three of The Crown refers to as "Margaretology.". Margaret, the wife of the 3rd Baron Poltimore, wore the tiara at the 1911 coronation.