Today marks the 100th Anniversary of the Death of Queen Margherita of Italy, who passed away born on this day in 1926! The Savoy Princess who married her cousin and became the first Queen of a unified Italy, Queen Margherita had a spectacular Jewellery Collection and today we are featuring one of her most iconic pieces: The Mellerio Diamond Wreath Tiara!
Queen Margherita’s Musy Tiara | Mellerio Diamond Wreath Tiara | Savoy Knot Tiara | Pearl Bracelet Bandeau | Savoy Crown Diamond Necklace | Pink Diamond Stomacher | Savoy Emerald Choker
This striking Diamond Wreath Tiara with a central wild rose was made by Maison Mellerio to be presented at the Exposition Universelle in Paris in 1867, and was displayed alongside the Mellerio Shell Tiara.
The following year, the Mellerio Diamond Wreath Tiara was acquired by King Victor Emmanuel II of Italy for his daughter-in-law and niece, Princess Margherita of Savoy, when she married the future King Umberto I of Italy.
Queen Margherita was photographed and depicted wearing the Mellerio Diamond Wreath Tiara with ropes of pearls and her Pink Diamond Stomacher in numerous portraits, paintings, and State Occasions, sometimes with a smaller Diamond Floral Tiara atop the Mellerio Wreath.
Queen Margherita continued to wear the Mellerio Diamond Wreath Tiara into the later years of her life, including for the Wedding of Prince Philipp of Hesse and her grand-daughter, Princess Mafalda of Savoy, at the Castle of Racconigi in 1925, just a few months before she passed away.
Several decades later, Queen Margherita’s Mellerio Diamond Wreath Tiara was worn by her granddaughter-in-law, Queen Marie-José, for the Wedding Ball of Archduke Robert of Austria and Princess Margherita of Savoy-Aosta in 1953.
Another notable appearance of the Mellerio Diamond Wreath Tiara was for a Ball at the Palace of Versailles in 1960.
Queen Marie-José wore the Mellerio Diamond Wreath Tiara with her Sapphire Necklace for the Wedding Ball of Prince Juan Carlos of Spain and Princess Sophia of Greece at the Royal Palace of Athens in 1962.
Queen Margherita’s Mellerio Diamond Wreath Tiara was also worn by Queen Giovanna of Bulgaria, the sister of King Umberto II of Italy, for the Wedding Ball of Infanta Pilar of Spain and Luis Gómez-Acebo y Duque de Estrada, Viscount de la Torre at the Palacio Hotel in Estoril in 1967.
At some point, Queen Margherita’s Mellerio Diamond Wreath Tiara was sold off by the House of Savoy and in recent years, it has belonged to the Albion Art Institute, being displayed at some exhibitions over the years.
Queen Margherita’s Musy Tiara | Mellerio Diamond Wreath Tiara | Savoy Knot Tiara | Pearl Bracelet Bandeau | Savoy Crown Diamond Necklace | Pink Diamond Stomacher | Savoy Emerald Choker
Mellerio Diamond Wreath Tiara
Pink Diamond Stomacher
Queen Margherita’s Musy Tiara
Beauharnais Pearl Tiara
Bow Brooch
Sapphire Necklace
Diamond Earrings
Savoy Knot Brooches
Queen Margherita’s Pearl Bracelet Bandeau
Queen Margherita’s Musy Tiara
Savoy Tourmaline Tiara
Savoy Emerald Choker
Queen Marie-José’s Sapphire Necklace
Savoy Ears of Wheat and Flower Tiara
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