Crown of Queen Mary

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Crown of Queen Mary
Queen Mary's Crown.png
Litograph by Cyril Davenport, ca. 1919
Details
Country United Kingdom
Weight590 g (1.30 lb)
Arches8
MaterialGold, silver
CapPurple velvet trimmed with ermine band
Notable stonesKoh-i-Noor, Cullinan III, Cullinan IV
Other elements2,200 diamonds

The Crown of Queen Mary is the consort crown made for Mary of Teck in 1911.

Mary bought the Art Deco-inspired crown from Garrard & Co. herself, and hoped that it would be worn by future queens consort. It is unusual for a British crown due to having eight half-arches instead of the traditional two arches.[1] It is 25 cm (9.8 in) tall and weighs 590 g (1.30 lb).[2]

The silver-gilt crown has around 2,200 rose-cut and brilliant-cut diamonds,[2] and originally contained the 105.6-carat (21.12 g) Koh-i-Noor diamond, as well as the 94.4-carat (18.88 g) Cullinan III and 63.6-carat (12.72 g) Cullinan IV. In 1914, they were all replaced with crystal models, and the arches were made detachable so that it could be worn as a circlet or open crown.[3] Mary wore it like this after her husband, King George V, died in 1936.[4]

Since Queen Mary died in 1953, the crown has not been worn. It is on display with the other Crown Jewels at the Tower of London.

  • Queen Mary wearing the crown in a formal Coronation photograph, 1911

  • The crown in the portrait of Queen Mary by William Llewellyn

  • Queen Mary wearing her crown without its arches, 1914

  • Another Queen Mary's photograph wearing the crown without arches, 1923

See also[]

References[]

  1. ^ Keay, Anna (2011). The Crown Jewels. Thames & Hudson. p. 175. ISBN 978-0-500-51575-4.
  2. ^ a b "Queen Mary's Crown". Royal Collection Trust. Inventory no. 31704.
  3. ^ Mears, Kenneth J.; Thurley, Simon; Murphy, Claire (1994). The Crown Jewels. Historic Royal Palaces. p. 27. ASIN B000HHY1ZQ.
  4. ^ Twining, Edward Francis (1960). A History of the Crown Jewels of Europe. B. T. Batsford. p. 167. ASIN B00283LZA6.

External links[]

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