Countess Gunnila Bernadotte’s Tiara

Today’s tiara belonged to Countess Gunnila Bernadotte, a member of the Swedish Royal Family, who died in September. It was worn to various royal events by Countess Gunnila, who was an aunt by marriage to Queen Margrethe II of Denmark, King Carl XVI Gustav of Sweden, and Queen Anne Marie of Greece. The Tiara will be auctioned at Bukowski’s in Stockholm on December 13th.

Countess Gunnila Bernadotte’s Tiara | Moonstone Suite

This tiara is based around an aigrette that is “unusual and very personal in its design.” It is made of platinum, diamonds, and cultured pearls, which form an elegant lily of the valley. The piece bears French hallmarks. The “lily of the valley” piece can be taken apart, and can be worn as a brooch. The tiara come from Countess Gunilla’s own Swedish aristocratic family, rather than from her husband’s family. Most likely from her mother, Märta (Hörke) Wachtmeister af Johannishus, born de Geer af Leufsta (1896-1976) then passed on to her daughter for her first wedding.

Countess Gunnila wore the Tiara soon after her marriage to ​Prince Carl Johan Bernadotte, Count of Wisborg in 1988, for a Banquet at the Royal Palace of Stockholm and also for the Luxembourg State Banquet at the Royal Palace of Stockholm in 1991. The Prince’s title of Count of Wisborg had been given by Grand Duchess Charlotte of Luxembourg in 1951, six years after he lost his Swedish Princely Title upon his first marriage.

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Countess Gunnila’s husband, Count Carl Johan Bernadotte, was the son of King Gustaf VI Adolf of Sweden and Princess Margaret of Connaught, and as such they were present at most Scandinavian royal weddings and events. The Tiara was notably worn by Countess Gunnila Bernadotte to the Wedding of Crown Prince Frederik of Denmark in 2004, the Wedding Crown Princess Victoria in 2010 and the Wedding of Princess Madeleine of Sweden in 2013, as well as other official events including the 50th Birthday Celebrations of King Carl Gustav of Sweden in 1996. It was also worn as a brooch to the pre-wedding ball of Princess Alexia of Greece in 1999. The tiara was also worn by a model as part of advertising for the Auction on December 13th at Bukowski’s Auction House in Stockholm. The estimate is 60 000 – 80 000 SEK / $6700 – $9000 USD.

UPDATE: Countess Gunnila Bernadotte Tiara was sold for 343,000 SEK / $38,000 USD surpassing its original estimate.

Countess Gunnila Bernadotte’s Tiara | Moonstone Suite

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For more information, check out:

Bukowski’s

Bukowski’s

The Court Jeweller

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