Monday, February 18, 2013

Mastery of Design: Bracelet with a Miniature of Princess Mary Adelaide of Cambridge, 1836



Bracelet
Crown Copyright
The Royal Collection 
Image Courtesy of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II



A masterpiece of filigreed gold mounted with turquoise, this bracelet from 1836 boasts a watercolor on ivory miniature of Princess Mary Adelaide of Cambridge. The bracelet was given as a gift to Augusta, Duchess of Cambridge, the mother of Princess Mary Adelaide and grandmother of Queen Mary (1867-1953). When the Duchess of Cambridge died, the bracelet, among many other jewels, was bequeathed to Queen Mary. 

The moulded gold bracelet is pierced with foliage and Greek key borders. The domed openwork cover is set with turquoise and contains the oval miniature of Princess Mary of Cambridge at about two years of age. She is wearing a white dress with blue sash and blue ribbons at the shoulders.


Crown Copyright
The Royal Collection

Crown Copyright
The Royal Collection

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