The Leuchtenberg Diamond Tiara
also known as the Empress Joséphine Tiara
History: The briolette-cut diamonds in the tiara were given to Empress Joséphine as a gift after her divorce from Napoleon by Tsar Alexander I of Russia. The diamonds were later inherited by the son of Empress Joséphine, Eugène de Beauhamais when he married Princess Augusta of Bavaria. Eugène and Augusta’s youngest son, Maximilian ended up marrying the eldest daughter of Tsar Nicholas I, putting the diamond back in the hands of the Russian Imperial Family.
The tiara was created by one of Fabergé’s workmasters, August Holmström around 1890. It is one of the few tiaras created by Ferbergé.
The tiara was eventually sold by the Leuchtenberg family following the Russian Revolution after WWI. The tiara was bought by Queen Elisabeth of Belgium, wife of King Albert I of Belgium from Seiler of Vevey in Switzerland. The tiara was then inherited by the second son of King Albert I and Queen Elisabeth, Prince Charles of Belgium in 1965. After Charles’ death in 1983, the tiara was inherited by his sister, Queen Maria-José of Italy (the last queen of Italy). The crown was later inherited by Queen Maria-José’s daughter, Princess Maria Gabriella of Italy after her mother died in 2001. Princess Maria Gabriella eventually sold the tiara to the now owner the Arthur and Dorothy McFerrin Foundation in an auction at Christie’s for $2,071,389 in order to pay her taxes.
Provenance
- Tsar Alexander I
- Empress Joséphine of France
- Eugène de Beauhamais / Princess Augusta of Bavaria
- Maximilian de Beauharnais, 3rd Duke of Leuchtenberg / Grand Duchess Maria Nikolaevna of Russia
- King Albert I of Belgium / Queen Elisabeth
- Prince Charles, Count of Flanders
- Queen Maria-José of Italy
- Princess Maria Gabriella of Italy
- The Arthur and Dorothy McFerrin Foundation
Notable Occasions:
The Leuchtenberg Diamond Tiara along with other creations by Ferbergé (including his famous eggs) have been and are still exhibited all around the world. Recently in Buckingham Palace in the summer of 2011.
(Thanks to various royal and historical blogs/websites for the info: Tiara Mania, Ferbergé, and among others. I have tried to do my best research; hopefully there are no errors.)
(via bittergrapes)
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