Today marks the Anniversary of the Death of Dowager Empress Maria Feodorovna of Russia, who passed away on this day in 1928! The Danish Princess who married the Russian Tsar and became the mother of the tragic last Tsar, the Empress possessed a spectacular collection of jewels, which included this Diamond Bar Brooch!
Empress Maria Feodorovna’s Pearl Wave Tiara | Pearl Drop Tiara | Maria Feodorovna’s Sapphire Bandeau | Russian Imperial Diamond Necklace | Sapphire Choker | Pearl Brooch | Pearl Earrings | Russian Sapphire Cluster Brooch | Diamond Pendant | Diamond Bar Brooch | Sapphire and Pearl Brooch | Sapphire Brooch
This delicate Pearl and Diamond Bar Brooch is of an unknown origin but it was in the collection of Dowager Empress Maria Feodorovna by the 1890s.
The Dowager Empress wore the Diamond Bar Brooch for a photo with Tsar Nicholas II in June 1899, and also for a photo with her Pearl Brooch taken around the same time.
The Brooch was one of the few jewels that the Dowager Empress Maria Feodorovna escaped with from Russia and retained the piece until the end of her life. After her death in 1928, her daughter, Grand Duchess Xenia sold several of her jewels to Queen Mary, which included the Diamond Bar Brooch for £555 on June 12, 1929, alongside a Pearl and Sapphire Choker, Sapphire and Pearl Brooch, Diamond Pendant and Sapphire Brooch.
Queen Mary frequently wore the Diamond Bar Brooch on her bodice for daytime events through the 1930s, usually paired with the Cambridge Pearl Brooch.
After Queen Mary’s death in 1953, the Diamond Bar Brooch was among the jewels inherited by her granddaughter, Queen Elizabeth II, though she did not wear it publicly until the 1980s, when it was worn for the Royal Windsor Horse Show and the Braemar Games.
More recently, the Queen wore Tsarina Maria Feodorovna’s Diamond Bar Brooch as she she peered out of the Balcony ahead of the Patron’s Lunch at Buckingham Palace to celebrate her 90th Birthday. Let’s hope we see this delicate Royal Heirloom again soon!
Empress Maria Feodorovna’s Pearl Wave Tiara | Pearl Drop Tiara | Maria Feodorovna’s Sapphire Bandeau | Russian Imperial Diamond Necklace | Sapphire Choker | Pearl Brooch | Pearl Earrings | Russian Sapphire Cluster Brooch | Diamond Pendant | Diamond Bar Brooch | Sapphire and Pearl Brooch | Sapphire Brooch
Empress Maria Feodorovna’s Pearl Wave Tiara
Empress Maria Feodorovna’s Pearl Brooch
Russian Imperial Diamond Necklace
Maria Feodorovna’s Sapphire Bandeau
Russian Sapphire Cluster Brooch
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