Saturday, February 26, 2011

Saturday Sparkle: The Diamond Brooch of Queen Adelaide

Tudor Rose Brooch with
Miniature of Queen Adelaide
Commissioned by William IV, 1835
Gold, Diamonds
The Royal Collection
In 1835, King William IV commissioned a British portrait artist to create a miniature on ivory of his wife, Queen Adelaide, which would be set into a diamond-encrusted Tudor rose and made into a brooch. The gold and diamond brooch features dozens of fine European cut diamonds and gracefully frames the delicate portrait.


The brooch was given by William IV to Caroline, Duchess of Saxe-Gotha-Altenburg who bequeathed it to Queen Victoria. Victoria succeeded William IV as ruler of the empire.

No comments: