Crowning Glory at the Louvre


If you are a jewellery lover like I am (sigh if only to have a bottomless money pit), you’d have seen this tiara somewhere else (other than this replica which is found at the Louvre Museum).

The tiara (part of the French Crown Jewels) once belonged to the Duchesse of Angoulieme, Marie Therese. It was also featured as the cover tiara on the book, “Tiara, a History of Splendour”.
And then you’ve got this ribbon stomacher, once belonging to Empress Eugenie, wife of Napoleon.

Artisans of today who can churn out something as elaborate as this are few and far between… sigh… 

And then there was Eugenie’s most exquisite diadem as well… 

which found itself on the head of Gloria Thurn und Taxis (as it had been with this family for centuries). But when Gloria’s husband died and left the family in debt, she sold the tiara off, which was luckily bought by the Amis de Louvre (friends of Louvre). It’s great that it did go back to the Louvre– and to France! After all, this tiara really is a gem of a crown for France!  
Sigh I could just stare at all of them for hours!!! The Louvre is huuuuge but you must (simply must) see Napoleon’s apartments which also house these “gems”!!
x
TheBagHag

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