Bonus Reading: A Quartet of Fabulous Fabergé Tiaras

Today at Hidden Gems, I’m bringing you the story of a charming violet created by Fabergé that was recently sold in Paris. As a bonus, I’m again dipping into our Fabergé archives here, highlighting four gorgeous tiaras made by the famous jewelry house.

A Sweet Fabergé Violet Sells For a Princely Sum in Paris
[Hidden Gems Exclusive]

A study of violets, one of the little everyday masterpieces produced at the turn of the twentieth century by Fabergé, was recently offered for auction by Christie’s in Paris, after residing in a French private collection for half a century.

Empress Joséphine’s Romanov Diamonds: The Leuchtenberg Fabergé Tiara

This delicate tiara was made by August Holmström, the Finnish-born head jeweler for Fabergé, around 1890. But while the entire jewel is certainly worthy of admiration, it’s the briolette-cut diamond drops which really make the piece important.

The Duchess of Westminster’s Dazzling Fabergé Wedding Tiara

For her wedding, the new Duchess of Westminster wore a tiara that has been in the Grosvenor collection for more than a century. The diamond tiara, which features a design made to mimic sprays of myrtle leaves, was made for the family in 1906 by Fabergé.

Grand Duchess Alexandra’s Astonishing Fabergé Aquamarine Tiara

This stunning diamond and aquamarine tiara, made by Fabergé in 1904, belonged to Grand Duchess Alexandra of Mecklenburg-Schwerin. But to fully understand the story of this particular sparkler, we need to travel back a generation, to learn about the woman who engineered its acquisition: her mother-in-law, Grand Duchess Anastasia Mikhailovna of Russia.

Crown Princess Cecilie’s Fabergé Tiara

This kokoshnik-style tiara was made around 1903, and although it is unsigned, it has often been attributed to Fabergé. (A similar Fabergé tiara was included in Geoffrey Munn’s landmark tiara tome.) The lot notes from Sotheby’s describe this tiara as “set with three circular-cut diamonds framed with stylised laurels within an arched surround of lattice work design joined with rose diamond quatrefoils.”