Today marks the Anniversary of the Death of Hannah de Rothschild, Countess of Rosebery, the wealthy Rothschild Heiress who married the Earl of Rosebery. The 5th Earl and Countess of Rosebery were very influential in society, but she suddenly died in 1890, four years before her husband was made Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, and to mark the Anniversary, we are taking a look at the Tiaras of the Countess of Rosebery, an article which we’ve had written for over three years!
Primrose Tiara
Designed as an articulated spray of en tremblant daisies and leaves, the gold and silver framework set throughout with cushion-shaped and circular-cut diamonds, which converts to three brooches. Dating from the 19th century, the piece belonged to the Primrose family before the marriage of Hannah de Rothschild to the Earl of Rosebery in 1878, which were described:
The presents are varied and costly. Prominent among them stand the Rosebery jewels, which were given by the noble bridegroom to his bride:
The Rosebery family jewels, consist of a complete parure of ancient diamonds, in their original setting, comprising a tiara comb, collet, pear shaped ear-rings, and cross of brilliants.
After the Countess’ death in 1891, the jewels remained unworn until her eldest son, Lord Dalmeny, married Lady Dorothy Grosvenor in 1909, which included the Primrose Tiara.
“Rarely does a bride come into the possession of such a magnificent inheritance of family jewels as did Miss Dorothy Grosvenor, chief in importance was the collection of jewels that which belonged to the late Lady Rosebery, and which had lain unworn in their cases for nearly twenty years.
One tiara formed of a semi-circle of pearls as big as walnuts contained about 150 diamonds of the first water.
This gorgeous headdress is convertible into a necklace, to which may be fitted seven magnificent diamonds pendants, each one centred with a pear-shaped pearl. With these drops is a pair of earrings to match, which measure about two and a half inches in length.
The collection includes a necklace of a three-row festoon of huge diamonds caught into diamond primroses at the sides of the neck.
The tiara en suite is a solid mass of similar gems and to complete this particular set of jewels there is a pair of diamond primrose earrings, a large diamond primrose corsage ornament, and two heavy bracelets, one formed of linked hearts and the other of parallel rows of large diamonds.
In 1955, the Primrose Tiara was notably worn by Deidre Reid when she married Neil, Lord Primrose, the future 7th Earl of Rosebery and Midlothian.
Lord and Lady Primrose waiting for the guests to arrive. Lady Primrose wore a family lace veil and tiara, both belonging to the bridegroom’s family, made from a design of primroses set in diamonds.
Two decades later, the Primrose Tiara was worn by Lady Lucy Primrose, the eldest daughter of the aforementioned 7th Earl and Countess, for her Wedding to Anthony Garton.
For several years, Caroline, Lady Dalmeny, the former wife of the current Earl, often wore the Primrose Tiara at quite a few Royal Caledonian Balls, serving as a Patron and later the Chairman.
The Primrose Tiara was also worn by Lady Emma Mehmood, the third daughter of the the 7th Earl and Countess, at the Royal Caledonian Ball.
The Primrose Tiara and the Rosebery Tiara both went on display at the landmark ‘Power & Image: Royal & Aristocratic Tiaras’ Exhibition at Sotheby’s in London in 2022.
These days, the Primrose Tiara is worn by the current Countess of Rosebery often for the Royal Caledonian Ball at the Grosvenor House Hotel in London, and there is no doubt this magnificent heirloom will be worn for years to come!
Rosebery Tiara
A magnificent Diamond Tiara set with a number of impressive and important diamonds, which was created by a French Jeweller in 1878 on commissioned from the 5th Earl of Rosebery.
The tiara is comprised of ornate scrollwork and foliate detailing in a graduated sequence of crescents within which large collet stones are set and flanked by foliate scrolls issuing stylised lilies, with a band interspersed with square and lozenge stones, set throughout with diamonds. These design elements are typical motifs of the late 19th century.
When Hannah de Rothschild, the great heiress said to be the richest women in England, married 5th Earl of Rosebery in 1878, the bride was presented with the heirloom family jewels as well as a newly created set of jewels, which included this Tiara.
The presents are varied and costly. Prominent among them stand the Rosebery jewels, which were given by the noble bridegroom to his bride:
The Rosebery family jewels, consist of a complete parure of ancient diamonds, in their original setting, comprising a tiara comb, collet, pear shaped ear-rings, and cross of brilliants.
They are scarcely excelled in beauty by the more modern collection diamonds, also presented his lordship, which form a large diadem, three-row necklace, pair of cluster earrings, two bracelets—one a copy of Mary, Queen of Scots, being two hearts tied with a lover’s knotted other three rows of single stones. (a new parure of brilliants formed a tiara of large stones, a double heart bracelet, with two drop-shaped stones; a bracelet of three rows, a necklace of three rows, with clusters at the side and back; and pair of ear-rings).
Historically prominent, as well as artistically beautiful, in this central display of presents from the Earl to Miss de Rothschild are the exquisite box of enamelled gold, surmounted by a portrait of Marie Antoinette, a painted fan which belonged to that unfortunate Queen, and an old Italian mirror, with pair of candlesticks, the silver work being elaborate and minute.
The Rosebery Tiara passed down the family and was notably worn by 7th Countess of Rosebery and Midlothian at the Royal Caledonian Ball in 2010, of which she is a Patroness.
Caroline, Lady Dalmeny, the former wife of the current Earl, often wore the Rosebery Tiara at quite a few Royal Caledonian Balls, serving as a Patron and later the Chairman.
After being exhibited in Boston and Japan and depicted in several books and catalogues, the Rosebery Tiara and the Primrose Tiara both went on display at the landmark ‘Power & Image: Royal & Aristocratic Tiaras’ Exhibition at Sotheby’s in London in 2022.
Just a few months later, the Rosebery Tiara was worn by Harriet Clapham for her Wedding to Lord Dalmeny at Barnbougle Castle in August 2022.
More recently, the now Countess of Rosebery wore the Rosebery Tiara, paired with a pair of heirloom earrings also given to Hannah de Rothschild, for the Royal Caledonian Ball at the Grosvenor House Hotel in London earlier this year, and there is no doubt this magnificent heirloom will be worn for years to come!
Thank You to the Countess of Rosebery for sharing some of the images of her wearing the two Family Tiaras!
Rosebery Tiara
Diamond Necklace
Devonshire Tiara
Devonshire Diamond Rivière
Ruby Clasp
Wellington Tiara
Diamond Floral Tiara
Diamond Earrings
Diamond Tassel Earrings
Von Preussen Tiara
Strawberry Leaf Coronet
Diamond Tiara
Foliate Tiara
Buccleuch Diamond Belt Tiara
Buccleuch Emerald Tiara
Buccleuch Mayflower Tiara
Buccleuch Turquoise Tiara
Buccleuch Pearl and Diamond Tiara
Bagration Spinel Tiara
Rosebery Tiara
Diamond Necklace
Westminster Myrtle Wreath Tiara
Diamond Fringe Tiara
Duchess of Buccleuch’s Tiaras
Rutland Tiara
Northumberland Tiara
Duchess of Sutherland’s Tiara
Duchess of Bedford’s Tiaras
Primrose Tiara
Featuring diamond daisies set in a diamond wreath, the Primrose Tiara was described in Diana Scarisbrick’s Ancestral Jewels as “the Rosebery family diamond tiara of daisies; it is a Primrose heirloom”. Dating from the 19th century, the piece belonged to the Primrose family before the marriage of Hannah de Rothschild to the Earl of Rosebery, though she was never pictured in the piece. In 1955, the Primrose Tiara was worn by Deidre Reid, when she married Neil, Lord Primrose, the Heir to the Earldom. The couple became the Earl and Countess of Rosebery in 1974, but I could not find pictures of the Countess wearing the Primrose Tiara in recent years.
The Primrose Tiara was worn a couple of times by Caroline, Lady Dalmeny, the former wife of Lord Dalmeny, heir to the Earldom, and Lady Emma Mehmood, third daughter of the Earl and Countess, at the Royal Caledonian Ball, which is held annually in London for the benefit of Scottish charities, with many members of the Scottish aristocracy usually in attendance. The Countess of Rosebery, Lady Dalmeny, and Lady Emma were a Patronesses of the Ball.
Rosebery Tiara
Made by a French jeweller in 1878, the Rosebery Tiara features ornate scrolls and spikes featuring several large diamonds and was commissioned by the 5th Earl of Rosebery as a wedding gift for his bride Hannah de Rothschild, the great heiress said to be the richest women in England. The Rosebery Tiara has passed down the family and was worn by current Countess of Rosebery at the Royal Caledonian Ball in 2010. The Rosebery Tiara was often worn by Caroline, Lady Dalmeny at quite a few Royal Caledonian Balls, most notably in her portrait taken as the Chairman of the Royal Caledonian Ball.
UPDATE: The Rosebery Tiara was worn by Harriet Clapham for her Wedding to Lord Dalmeny at Barnbougle Castle in 2022.
Palmette Tiara
Lady Dalmeny also wore an antique Diamond Palmette Tiara, of unknown provenance, which was worn at the Royal Caledonian Ball in 2015, the year after her divorce. The piece may come from her own family, or it may be borrowed. The Pearl drop Tiara later in the Westminster collection was also once in the Rosebery collection.
The Tiaras are currently on display at ‘Power & Image: Royal & Aristocratic Tiaras’ at Sotheby’s in London
It is possible that the Palmette Tiara (as worn to the royal caladonian ball in 2015) could have been made by London based jeweler Andrew Prince. He also made the tiaras for Downton Abbey.
I hadn’t thought about that, but that’s quite likely! Thanks!
What is the book that the two tiaras are depicted on?