If ever there was a tiara match made in heaven, it was Princess Margaret and this whopper of a tiara. Prentice surmises that such a piece took around six months to make. The Golden Age: The Poltimore Tiara of Princess Margaret - Blogger Its such a pity that her children had to sell it to pay death duties. "It's such a modern thing," Sara Prentice, creative director at the House of Garrard, told Vogue. In it, the Countess of Snowdon is seen soaking in a bathtub wearing nothing but the Poltimore tiara on her head; the racy image was taken in 1962 by her husband, but didn't enter the public domain until 2006, years after Margaret's death. (Disobedience is my joy, she once said about herself.) The Fascinating Story Behind Princess Margaret's Magnificent Poltimore The large scrolls can be worn as brooches, and the clusters can also form a necklace. The tiara was made by Garrard & Co. and is set with diamonds from a tiara belonging to Queen Mary. 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. 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. The Poltimore Tiara: A Royal Wedding Present | Ossare Princess Margaret did wear the tiara as a fringe necklace often in public, both before and after her 1960 wedding. Were saluting her birthday by featuring her Poltimore Tiara. We may earn commission on some of the items you choose to buy. Margaret wasnt even engaged yet when, shortly after she purchased it, she wore it at the Royal Opera House in Covent Garden during the May 1959 state visit from the Shah of Iran. 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. This is a very traditional-looking crown made from silver, gold, diamonds, and pearls. Margaret Poltimore was a British actress who was best known for her role as Mrs. Tiggy-Winkle in the 1971 film adaptation of Beatrix Potters The Tale of Mrs. Tiggy-Winkle. It is unclear whether the tiara is still in the hands of its owner or has been worn. Composed of of diamonds in clusters and scroll motifs, the Poltimore Tiara was made by Garrards in the 1870s for Florence, Lady Poltimore, wife of the second Baron Poltimore. I've always had a soft spot for Princess Margaretpartly for the same reason .css-gegin5{-webkit-text-decoration:underline;text-decoration:underline;text-decoration-thickness:0.0625rem;text-decoration-color:inherit;text-underline-offset:0.25rem;color:#9a0500;-webkit-transition:all 0.3s ease-in-out;transition:all 0.3s ease-in-out;}.css-gegin5:hover{color:#595959;text-decoration-color:border-link-body-hover;}President Johnson so enjoyed her (those limericks! Her children sold it for 926,400 ($1,704,576) after her death. Margaret died in 2002, and by 2006, her two children were facing a massive estate tax bill. Margaret also wore the necklace version of the tiara, as you can see in the photograph above, taken at the Royal Opera House in Covent Garden in 1960. Princess Margarets children auctioned off one of their mothers jewels, which was made of white gold and diamond. 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. 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. Its Christies listing describes it 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.. Lady Poltimore wore the fantastical creation, with framework comprised of both silver and gold metals, to the coronation of King George V in 1911. Since then, the tiara has remained a mystery. Her wedding gown was made of the Poltimore tiara, which Princess Margaret wore on her wedding day. Even though she wore other tiaras throughout her life, the Poltimore became the diadem most closely associated with her. 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. Margaret, the wife of the 3rd Baron Poltimore, wore the tiara at the 1911 coronation. When the Queens uncle, the former King Edward VIII, went into exile after abdicating the throne and marrying Wallis Simpson, he took the coronet he had worn to his own investiture with him. The diadem has a rich history. Thats why she wore the Poltimore tiara, which was at least four inches tall, at her wedding. (Margaret was five-foot-one.). . I love to design and create beautiful and fabulous jewelry! Were finding more and more now that women are purchasing for themselves, but way back in 1959, she chose it for herself. It could transform into a necklace (which Margaret did in 1960) or, if one wished, 11 different brooches. The Poltimore Tiara was originally created by Garrards in 1870 for Lady Poltimore, the wife of the second Baron Poltimore. 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 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 diamond-encrusted figures include 4 crosses-patte (a Christian symbol) and 4 floral sprays that represent the national emblems of the UK. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our User Agreement and Privacy Policy and Cookie Statement and Your California Privacy Rights. She has been seen wearing the Poltimore Tiara, the fringe tiara, and the Boucheron tiara at various royal events. Lady Poltimore bought the tiara from Garrard, the royal jewellers, in 1870, and wore it for the coronation of King George V in 1911. The Princess Margaret first wore this impressive piece as the 'Poltimore Tiara', Jewellery and Faberge, from the Collection of H.R.H The Princess Margaret, Countess of Snowdon. Margaret's jewelry collection, says Bartos, perfectly reflected the trajectory of a modern royal. When Princess Margaret died in 2002, her children inherited her jewelry collection. The tiara was made by Garrard & Co. and is considered to be one of the most important pieces of jewelry in the British royal collection. Lady Poltimore bought the tiara from Garrard, the royal jewellers, in 1870, and wore it for the coronation of King George V in 1911. Princess Margaret, who would marry Antony Armstrong-Jones (later Earl of Snowdon) the following year, snapped it up for a mere 5,500. The stylish essentials of the Georgian gentleman. As portrayed in the show, the Princess hoped her wedding and marriage would somewhat upstage her sister the Queen. Traditionally, the crowns of monarchs include 2 arches while the investiture coronet has just one, signifying that while the Prince of Wales outranks other royals but not the monarch. Margaret never changed the design of her bracelet, despite its failure to keep up with fashion trends. 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. 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. Princess Margaret is thought to have given one of her two children the engagement ring. The striking tiara may have also served another purpose: It added some height. Unlike other royal brides, the Queens younger sister bought the Poltimore Tiara, rather than borrowing from the royal vaults, Joy for Pippa and James Matthews as their seven-month-old daughter is christened at village church, Earl Spencer shares touching childhood photo of his late mother from his personal archives, Corsets, begone! Princess Margaret used to loan it to her. Still, the iconic photo of a young royal having a little flirty fun sparked the public imagination, so much so that in season 3 of The Crown, that particular scene is reimagined, with Helena Bonham Carter playing the boundary-pushing royal. She also used one of the brooches from the tiara to secure her order sash. After Margaret's death, her children, Earl Snowdon and Lady Sarah Chatto, sold the tiara off in an auction for 926,400. To revist this article, visit My Profile, then View saved stories. Taken by her husband, famed photographer Antony Armstrong-Jones, the photo was only released to the public in 2006, four years after Margarets death. 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. It was commissioned by Edward, Prince of Wales, for his wife, Alexandra of Denmark. A post shared by European Royal Families (@euroroyals) on Aug 9, 2017 at 9:03pm PDT. It became the most-associated tiara with Princess Margaret, says Prentice. The tiara was made in the 1870s by crown jeweler Garrard for Lady Poltimore and can be transformed into a fringe-style necklace and 11 brooches. 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. . Her wedding was just its most public outing: In 1977, for example, she donned it again for the shah of Irans state visit to the United Kingdom. Four years after Princess Margaret's death, a photograph of Princess Margaret smiling coquettishly from a bathtub wearing nothing but the Poltimore tiara surfaced. The piece can be worn as a tiara or as a necklace and brooch. True Story of Princess Margaret's Poltimore Tiara, Which She Wears in Then came her decision to purchase a wedding tiara rather than borrow one from the extensive vault of crown jewels. Her wedding was just one of its most public outings. Who owns Princess Margarets jewelry? Christie's sold the tiara for a record-breaking 1.25 million in 2017. Her royal wedding to Antony Armstrong-Jones was broadcast live on television, and she gave birth to two children, David and Sarah, shortly after. At her wedding, the Poltimore tiara emphasized HRHs royalty, sitting dramatically as it did on the head of a very petite princess who also purposely chose a quite simple Norman Hartnell gown," says Bartos. Poltimore Tiara (1 - 6 of 6 results) Price ($) Any price Under $50 . The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Cond Nast. The diamond scrolls were meant to emulate flora and nature. Editor-in-Chief Stellene Volandes is a jewelry expert, and the author of Jeweler: Masters and Mavericks of Modern Design (Rizzoli). But the image remained ingrained in minds everywhere so much so that The Crown included a scene about it in season three. Sign up for The Court Jeweller Newsletter, Sparkling Royal Jewels From Around the World, 06.23.2018 by The Court Jeweller // Leave a Comment. This article was originally published on Vogue.com. Reviews It sold for a whopping 1.25 million ($1.9 million), a tiara that is currently worth around 39,300. This is the Poltimore Tiara which we saw the Princess wear at her wedding. She also rather famously wore it in a bathtub at Kensington Palace, in a photograph taken by her husband Lord Snowdon. Eleven years later, after Lord Snowdon died, the royal family quietly removed the image from public view. While King George often purchased items from jewelry houses such as Cartier for his family members, he had the royal jeweler, Garrard, create this piece. It did not come out of the monarch's vault for Margaret's use, but rather belonged to the Princess herself. She was then a glamorous party girl married to a hip photographer and design aficionado. 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.". Not only a tiara, it was designed to be broken down into a necklace as well as 11 brooches. Known as the Poltimore Tiara, it originally belonged to Lady Poltimore, the wife of the second Baron Poltimore. I remember at the time there was a lot of worry as to whether anyone would come.". The Poltimores put it up for auction in. The Tiara headlined the sale, and was auctioned for926,400 ($1,704,576) to a private Asian buyer. It was sold at auction by Christie's in 2007 for $1.7 million. As a tiara, it can also be worn in its full glory or in a slightly smaller version. She didnt have a complex about being number two, Helena Bonham Carter, who plays Princess Margaret in season three, recently told T&C, she had a complex about being short. Experts now believe that the piece could be worth up to 3 million. 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. In her 1969 portrait, taken by Anthony Buckley, the queen wears two pieces that we still often see her wearing today: the Girls of Great Britain and Ireland Tiara and a matching necklace and earrings set that is set with diamonds and large aquamarines. What happened to the Poltimore Tiara after her death is still a mystery. Margaret passed away in 2002 and her two children were hit with an estate tax bill in 2006. Press 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. Donald noted her interest in modern design and craftsmanship. Princess Margarets children went on to become successful artists, each having two children of their own. Receive more articles like this, straight to your inbox. Eleven years later, the portrait was removed from public view. Poltimore Tiara | The Royal Watcher Her love of books, TV, and movies has given her a passion for anything and everything pop culture. Made in 1870 by the House of Garrard in London, its the epitome of Victorian-era jewellery. Not that I think either of them would have much use for it now, but its sad that they couldnt keep it as a remembrance or perhaps give it to the crown for others to use. 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. Vogue may earn a portion of sales from products that are purchased through our site as part of our Affiliate Partnerships with retailers. And for Prince Charles coronet, the designer chose a noticeably futuristic design that was so popular in the 1960s and compliments the Queens interesting hat choice for the occasion. Sothebys was the first place to offer the antique silver-top gold diamond jewel in 1959. It was on her wedding day, arriving at Westminster Abbey by horse-drawn carriage, that Princess Margaret first wore this impressive piece atop her head publicly. Discolored Ring Finger Nails: What Does It Mean For Your Health? brooches. In 1957, Princess Margarets tiara was bought by the Duke of Edinburgh for 5,000 on behalf of Queen Elizabeth II as a wedding present. The antique silver topped gold diamond jewel went on offer at Sotheby's in 1959. Email This BlogThis! Christies sold the tiara for 926,400 pounds (now worth around $1.1 million), raising funds for the Princesss childrens estate tax obligations. 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. The Poltimore Tiara was originally created by Garrards in 1870 for Lady Poltimore, the wife of the 2nd Baron Poltimore. The tiara was sold at auction in 2010 for 935,000. The late Princess Margaret, Countess of Snowdon would have turned 87 next week. Following her death in 2002, Christies held an auction of Princess Margarets private collection. Prentice surmises that such a piece took around six months to make. However, they chose to sell most of the pieces, because they could not agree on who should get what. What I love about this piece is that it was used for formal and informal occasions, says Daphne Lingon, head of jewelry at Christies USA. What Does Harry and Meghans Eviction From Frogmore Cottage Mean for Their Future in the U.K.? 2023 Cond Nast. 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. Margarets children decided to put it up for auction to raise money for inheritance taxes. Made in 1870 by the House of Garrard in London, it's the epitome of Victorian-era jewelry style: The diamond scrolls evoke flora, flowers, and nature. The tiara Princess Margaret wears on her wedding day was purchased before the ceremony. Years later, Princess Diana would similarly cause a buzz when she turned down Queen Elizabeth's Cambridge Lover's Knot tiara in favor of a family heirloom, the Spencer tiara. He also gifted her the rest of the clear diamonds which were all given to Cartier to create the brooch. "We're finding more and more now that women are purchasing for themselves, but way back in 1959, she chose it for herself. There is no public record of the tiaras current location. Our group will examine all of her Tiaras, as well as her extensive jewelry collection, in the wake of her death. The Fascinating Story Behind Princess Margaret's Magnificent Poltimore The tiara is currently owned by Serenas daughter, Lady Charlotte Stanhope. The Diamond Sunburst Tiara was a large sapphire crystal with a central gem that has not been seen in public since the 1950s. Over the course of her life, she become a great patron of young designers and unconventional styles. The tiara gets its name from its original owner: Florence Bampfylde, Lady Poltimore. There, it was purchased for 5,500 by Princess Margaret. All the Royal Family's Most Gorgeous Tiaras: Your Official Guide to Who In 1902, Lady Poltimore wore her tiara at the Coronation of King Edward VII in . Margaret didnt wait until her wedding day to wear the tiara, though. The large scrolls can be worn as brooches, and the clusters can also form a necklace. A little bit of historical research on the Queens reign in the 60s and 70s brought out a few pieces that we are bound to see on the small screen. It is also the crown the Queen wears for the portraits used for the UKs stamps. A Christies auction last year raised funds for the tiara, jewelry, and estate of Princess Margaret. 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. The Grandest Royal Wedding Day Tiaras Worn in Recent History 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. Contributors Princess Margaret Bought Her Wedding Tiara | The Adventurine It was acquired in 1959 before the official announcement by H.M. Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother on 26th February 1960 of the engagement of H.R.H. While the royals have been known to buy jewellery - Queen Mary, Margarets grandmother, famously bought the emerald tiara that once belonged to Grand Duchess Vladimir of Russia - it was very unusual to not wear a family heirloom for a wedding day. The Poltimore tiara is an heirloom that has been passed down through the Poltimore family for generations. When worn, the tiara almost appears to float. Princess Margaret loaned the Lozenge Bandeau to the Queen of England as her first tiara. Many believe she had the best eye for jewelry in the palace. 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. What happened to Princess Margarets children? With the official trailer which came out in mid-October (watch below), we know that the costumes for this coming season are as spectacular as any weve seen. Given the simplicity of her Norman Hartnell wedding dress, Margaret opted to amp things up by styling the tiara with a cathedral-length silk and tulle veil that billowed dramatically behind her as she made her way down the aisle in Westminster Abbey. Its such a modern thing, Sara Prentice, creative director at the House of Garrard, tells Vogue. Made in 1870 by the House of Garrard in London, it's the epitome of Victorian-era jewellery. Sheila Stucley. The Poltimore Tiara - The Court Jeweller 13-jun-2017 - HRH The Princess Margaret, Countess of Snowdon wearing the Poltimore Tiara as a fringe necklace to a cinema opening in the 1960's. 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. 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According to Vogue, a piece of brown ribbon was laced into the framework of the tiara so that when Princess Margaret wore it, only the cloth would sink into her hair while the rest of the sparkling diadem would be on full display. 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. . Lady Poltimore bought the tiara from Garrard, the royal jewellers, in 1870, and wore it for the coronation of King George V in 1911. In her 1966 portrait, taken by photographer Yusuf Karsh, the queen wears two pieces that weve definitely seen before, the Queen Alexandra Kokoshnik tiara and the George VI Festoon necklace. Sign up for The Court Jeweller Newsletter, Crown Princess Mary of Denmark Sparkles in India, The Princess of Waless Heavenly Pearl Earrings, Bejeweled Battle: Swedens Gorgeous Aquamarine Kokoshnik Tiara, Beautiful Birthday Pearls for Japans Imperial Family in Tokyo, An English Rose Brooch for the Princess of Wales in Cardiff. The Poltimore Tiara, with diamond scrolls evoking flora, flowers, and nature, is the epitome of Victorian-era jewelry. The tiara was lined with a brown ribbon that matched the color of Margaret's hair. ), but also because she had a killer eye for jewelry. The family put it up for auction in January 1959. Dont Miss a Single Sparkling Moment! It is famous for being in the personal collection of Princess Margaret Of The United Kingdom Source: The Court Jeweller Its such a modern thing, Sara Prentice, creative director at the House of Garrard, tells Vogue. We cant wait for The Crown to return for its third season, both for the drama and for the jewels. 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). 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!).