The Jewel House: An Account of the Many Romances Connected with the Royal Regalia: Together with Sir Gilbert Talbot's Account of Colonel Blood's Plot — John Shaqi
The Jewel House: An Account of the Many Romances Connected with the Royal Regalia: Together with Sir Gilbert Talbot's Account of Colonel Blood's PlotYounghusband, G. J. (George John)
History
The Jewel House: An Account of the Many Romances Connected with the Royal Regalia: Together with Sir Gilbert Talbot's Account of Colonel Blood's Plot
Younghusband, G. J. (George John)
Crown jewels -- Great Britain
The State Crown is of the Imperial, as distinguished from the Royal
shape of the older crown; thus the arches are not depressed where they
cross each other, but slope up to the monde. In the band the two great
stones are the Star of South Africa in front, and the Stuart sapphire
exactly opposite it at the back. Between these, round the band at
intervals are very large sapphires, rubies, and emeralds thickly
encrusted with diamonds. Above the band are alternate crosses patés and
fleurs-de-lis in diamonds, in the centre of each being a large coloured
gem. Indeed, the whole Crown is a complete mass of diamonds interspersed
with coloured gems and pearls. Up the arches which spring from the
crosses patés are clusters of diamonds formed to represent oak leaves
with the acorns represented by large pearls. The device on the arches is
commemorative of the oak of Boscobel, in which Charles II hid for his
life when a fugitive. The Black Prince’s ruby, which is as large as an
egg, is set at the foot of the front arch. The monde is covered with a
complete mass of diamonds so closely set as to leave no metal visible.
On top of the monde is a large cross paté, also an entire mass of
diamonds, and in the centre of it is set the magnificent sapphire which
was once in the coronation ring of Edward the Confessor. Where the two
arches cross may be seen pendent four very large pearls as large as
small birds’ eggs. These were Queen Elizabeth’s earrings. Inside this
Crown is a purple velvet Cap of Maintenance edged round the bottom with
minever. This Crown weighs 39 oz. 5 dwts.
[Illustration: THE IMPERIAL INDIAN CROWN]
The third Crown of the King is the Imperial Crown of India, made for
George V when he was crowned Emperor of India in 1912. As mentioned
elsewhere, the Crown of England is not allowed by ancient law to leave
the shores of the British Isles; consequently this new Crown had to be
made. The work was entrusted to the Court Jewellers, Messrs. Garrard,
and a very fine example of the jeweller’s art was the result. The Crown
cost £60,000, and is adorned with some six thousand precious stones.
These are mostly diamonds, but some very large and valuable coloured
stones are also displayed. Notably a large cabuchon emerald in front of
the band of the Crown, a very fine ruby in the front cross paté, and a
very valuable emerald in the cross paté on top of the Crown. In shape
the Crown approaches nearer the Imperial shape as pictorially known.
Instead of two arches as in the other crowns there are eight demi arches
which incline upwards to support the monde instead of being depressed to
receive it. These demi arches spring from the eight crosses patés and
fleurs-de-lis, which stand on the band of the Crown. The monde, as well
as all the crosses patés and fleurs-de-lis, are a mass of diamonds with
a large coloured gem in the centre of each. Inside the Crown is the Cap
of Maintenance of purple velvet bound at the bottom with minever.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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