Marchioness of Londonderry’s Tiaras

Today marks the Anniversary of the Birth of Edith, Marchioness of Londonderry, who was born on this day in 1878! The influential aristocratic Society Hostess who was the first woman to be appointed to be a Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire in the Military Division, the Marchioness of Londonderry was often seen in the spectacular Londonderry Jewels!

The daughter of the 1st Viscount Chaplin and Lady Florence Sutherland-Leveson-Gower, she was raised mainly at Dunrobin Castle in Scotland by her maternal grandfather, the Duke of Sutherland. In 1899, she married Charles Vane-Tempest-Stewart, Viscount Castlereagh, who succeeded his father as the 7th Marquess of Londonderry in 1915, making her chatelaine of several large houses, including Londonderry House in London, Mount Stewart in County Down, Wynward Park in County Durham, Seaham Hall and Plas Machynlleth in Wales. Lord and Lady Londonderry had five children, including the 8th Marquess and Lady Mairi Bury, the youngest and the favourite. The 7th Marchioness was a influential society hostess between the two World Wars, notable for her friendship with Prime Minister Ramsay MacDonald, and served as the Colonel-in-Chief of the Women’s Volunteer Reserve, becoming the first woman to be appointed to be a Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire in the Military Division. Lady Londonderry died of cancer on this day in 1959.

Londonderry Tiara

Commissioned by the 3rd Marchioness from Garrard in 1854, using existing family jewels, the Londonderry Tiara was part of a larger parure including a large Diamond Stomacher, diamond riviere with a cross pendant, and diamond bow brooches.

The spectacular Diamond Tiara first appeared on Theresa, the 6th Marchioness of Londonderry, who wore it in various configurations for a series of portraits in 1889 and 1891. The Marchioness was one of the leading Tory hostess, referred to as a ‘highwaywoman in a tiara’ when she entertained at Wynyard Park, Mount Stewart, and at Londonderry House in London.

The Marchioness wore the Diamond Tiara when she dressed as Empress Maria Theresa of Austria for the iconic Devonshire House Ball in 1897, and was also worn for the Coronation of King Edward VII in 1902, when Lady Londonderry dropped the Tiara into the toilet and it had to be ‘rescued by a pair of forceps’.

The 7th Marchioness of Londonderry was also a spectacular society hostess, wearing the Diamond Tiara on numerous occasions when she entertained at Londonderry House in London during the 1920s and 30s, including for her Lazlo Portrait and a series of portraits taken in 1927, when she also wore the Turquoise Parure.

In 1937, the Marchioness of Londonderry wore the Tiara with the Pearl Parure and Diamond Stomacher for the Coronation of King George VI and Queen Elizabeth at Westminster Abbey, and following the war, the Londonderry Tiara was worn for the State Opening of Parliament in the Chamber of the House of Lords in 1948, as well as for a Coming Out Ball at Londonderry House in 1952

Family Fortunes have changed and the current Marquess of Londonderry no longer has a family seat, but continues to posses the Family Jewels, which have been on permanent loan to the Victoria & Albert Museum in London for several decades, though can be removed to be worn.

Amethyst Parure

In 1821, the 3rd Marchioness was given 14 Siberian Amethysts by Tsar Alexander I of Russia, who had become smitten with her after viewing her portrait. The Marchioness ‘managed to end the love affair ‘innocent of guilt’, but the jewels given to her have remained with the family, notably wearing them to the Coronation of King William IV.

In 1916, the Amethysts were made into a Tiara for the 7th Marchioness, though she preferred wearing them as a corsage ornament, while the 9th Marchioness wore them as a necklace and as bracelets.

The Londonderry Amethysts are on permanent display at the Victoria & Albert Museum in London, though they still belong to the family.

Pearl Parure

The Londonderry ‘Gouttes de Perles’ Parure, consisting of several brooches, earrings, and pendants, can be worn as a necklace and a tiara. It was bought by the 3rd Marchioness of Londonderry around 1821, during the Marquess’ Embassy to Vienna, and was often paired with the Londonderry Tiara, or worn as a Tiara itself by subsequent Marchionesses.

It appears that the Parure was among the pieces, like the family seat of Mount Stewart, inherited by Lady Mairi Bury, the youngest and favourite child of the 7th Marquess and Marchioness of Londonderry, as the Tiara was worn by her daughter, the Hon. Elizabeth Keppel, at her first wedding.

The Parure is also on display at the Victoria & Albert Museum, on the second floor of the Jewellery Gallery.

Turquoise Parure

The Londonderry Turquoise Parure was bought by the 3rd Marchioness from Count Ferdinand Palffy, who had collected them throughout his life, in Vienna in 1820, and she notably wore pieces of the parure on her skirt at the Coronation of King William IV in 1830.

The Parure was worn by the 7th Marchioness with the Londonderry Tiara and Stomacher for a portrait in the 1920s.

The Turquoise Brooch was worn by the infamous 9th Marchioness in the 1960s, and the entire parure is  on display at the Victoria & Albert Museum in London.

Emerald Parure

Another gift from 3rd Marchioness of Londonderry from Tsar Alexander I of Russia, the Londonderry Emerald Parure appears to have been also inherited by Lady Mairi Bury, and was worn by her daughter, Baroness Sudeley, for a portrait.

The Suite is also on display at the Victoria & Albert Museum.  An Emerald Bracelet belonging to the 7th Marchioness was auctioned earlier this year.

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Londonderry Tiara

Londonderry Amethyst Parure

Londonderry Pearl Parure

Londonderry Turquoise Parure

Londonderry Diamond Stomacher

Londonderry Emerald Parure

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Today marks the 140th Anniversary of Edith Vane-Tempest-Stewart, the 7th Marchioness of Londonderry, who was an influential society hostess throughout much of the first half of the 20th century. The Anglo Irish Vane-Tempest-Stewart have have produced a plethora of politicians and socialites, Lady Annabel Goldsmith is the daughter of the 8th Marquess, and Edith was one of a long line of prominent Marchionesses of Londonderry who entertained at the family seats of Mount Stewart in Northern Ireland and Wynyard Park in County Durham as well as the famous Londonderry House in London, all of which no longer belong to the current Marquess. To mark the anniversary of her birth, we are taking a look at the Jewels of the Marchionesses of Londonderry-

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6 thoughts on “Marchioness of Londonderry’s Tiaras

  1. interesting that the londonderry tiara and the amethyst tiara both exhibited at the V&A still belong to the family. Does that mean the family could still borrow the tiaras from the V&A, to wear for an event like a wedding or Charles’ coronation?

    1. ditto the two Fife family tiaras on display at KP – I understand they were lent to the govt for permanent display (to settle taxes??) but could the Fifes borrow the tiaras back from the exhibit to wear in the event of a coronation?

      1. I believe it would be possible, and probably be part of the terms negotiated at the time of the loan, to allow the Tiaras to be worn at Weddings and Coronations!

  2. I’m just looking for place to start up a blog with a friend where we talk sports in Chicago as well as other things going on nationwide….just for fun. Any suggestions on sites would be great. Thanks..

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