Today in Edinburgh, the King and Queen will attend a traditional service of thanksgiving at St Giles’ Cathedral to celebrate their recent coronation. Charles III will officially be presented with the Honours of Scotland, a collection of regalia that includes one of Europe’s oldest surviving crowns.
Scottish Noble Jewels for Sale
Sotheby’s |
Later this month, Sotheby’s in London will hold an auction that features several impressive pieces offered by an unnamed Scottish noble family. Here’s a look at a few of the highlights so far…
Sotheby’s |
The lot notes describe this diamond brooch, which dates to around the 1880s, as being “in the form of a lyre of foliate inspiration, set with cushion-shaped diamonds.” It reminds me a bit of the brooches that formed the Poltimore Tiara, and the estimate of the brooch’s age would suggest they were made around the same time. (Estimate: £5,000 — £7,000)
Sotheby’s |
This bracelet, a serpent design that was popular in the nineteenth century, features “turquoise enamel, highlighted with cushion-shaped and rose diamonds” and “eyes set with cabochon rubies.” The piece comes in a case bearing the name Hunt and Roskell, a British firm that began doing business under that name in the 1840s, and the bracelet is dated to the mid-nineteenth century. (Estimate: £4,000 — £6,000)
Sotheby’s |
These three brooches, made of diamonds and emeralds, date to the second half of the nineteenth century. The lot notes describe the largest brooch as “a floral spray of dog rose and lily-of-the-valley,” and the smaller two as “the head of a dog rose, set with cushion-shaped and rose diamonds, each set with a step-cut emerald.” (Estimate: £7,000 — £9,000)
Sotheby’s |
The lot notes describe this simple but sparkling piece as a “navette-shaped brooch set with cushion-, pear-shaped and rose diamonds.” Like many of the pieces being offered by this unnamed family, it dates to the middle of the nineteenth century. (Estimate: £7,000 — £9,000)
Sotheby’s |
How’s this for something different??? This unusual and magnificent suite of jewels features turquoises that have been carved into detailed cameos featuring “triumphal and Bacchanalian scenes” and set in gold and diamonds. The set, made in the middle of the nineteenth century, includes a necklace and a coordinating pair of earrings. (Estimate: £7,000 — £9,000)
Sotheby’s |
This final highlight isn’t part of the collection of Scottish noble jewels, but I couldn’t keep myself from including it anyway! If the lot notes on this one are correct, it’s quite rare: a tiara that dates to the 1790s. That would be extremely early for a jewel of this design. The lot notes don’t give us much additional information, noting simply that the piece is of “scrolling design, set with rose diamonds in closed settings.” It’s being offered by “a lady.” (Estimate: £24,000 — £28,000)
Jewels in Motion: The Crown of Scotland
Ian Stewart/AFP/Getty Images |
Our look at the glittering details of various crown jewels continues today with a close-up view of one of the most historic crowns in Britain: the Crown of Scotland.
The crown is displayed with the Honours of Scotland in the Crown Room at Edinburgh Castle. It shares a display case with three other very important Scottish objects: the Sceptre of Scotland, the Sword of State, and the Stone of Scone. That stone, also known as the “Stone of Destiny,” resided in Westminster Abbey until 1996. The stone is used in the coronation of British monarchs, and it will be returned to the Abbey for the next coronation, whenever that may be.
The crown and the other Honours of Scotland have been successfully hidden multiple times to prevent them from being stolen or destroyed. They have survived both Cromwell and World War II, so it should come as no surprise that they’re the oldest surviving set of crown jewels in Britain.
The current crown was made in 1540 for King James V of Scotland, father of Mary, Queen of Scots. Gold from a previous version of the crown was melted down and reused for the construction of this crown, and some of the gems from the earlier version were also recycled.
The crown is usually displayed with a red velvet cap; its arches, which meet at a monde and cross, are more visible with the cap removed.
Gemstones set in the crown include Scottish freshwater pearls, garnets, and amethysts.
The Crown of Scotland is not generally worn today, but it is brought out of its display for important Scottish events, including the opening of parliament. You can read much more about the crown in our recent article over here!