Happy Birthday to Queen Mathilde of Belgium, who turns 49 today! With one of the smallest jewellery collections among her European counterparts, Queen Mathilde is frequently seen in just a few limited pieces, and quite a few loans, from which we are featuring her Diamond Butterfly Brooch today!
The Belgian Royal Tiaras | Diamond Fringe Earrings | Diamond Scroll Earrings | Wedding Earrings | Waterfall Brooch | Tunisian Parure | Aquamarines | Diamond Butterfly Brooch
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Made around 1900, this Diamond Butterfly Brooch is of unknown provenance and described as:
Importante BROCHE DE CORSAGE en platine (900 millièmes) et or gris (750 millièmes) ajouré serti de diamants taille ancienne de forme coussin dont sept plus importants, et de diamants taillés en rose, à motifs de volutes, rinceaux et fleurs stylisées. Vers 1900. Dim.: 8 x 5,5 cm. Poids brut: 33,4 g
In October 2014, the Brooch was purchased by Jeweller Martin du Daffoy at auction at Drouot’s in Paris for € 8.400. While it is possible that the Diamond Butterfly Brooch may have been bought by Queen Mathilde, Martin du Daffoy have posted pictures with the Brooch (which could have been taken earlier) after Queen Mathilde has started wearing it, so it is likely that is a loan, as with some other jewels that the Queen has worn.
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The Diamond Butterfly Brooch made its debut in 2017, when Queen Mathilde used it to pin the Sash of the Danish Order of the Elephant at the spectacular Banquet hosted by Queen Margrethe II of Denmark on the first day of the Belgian State Visit to Denmark, when the Brooch was paired with the Nine Provinces Tiara.
Koningin Mathilde (B) en koningin Máxima (NL) wonen uitvaartceremonie voor Thaise koning Bhumibol bij in Bangkok. Foto: @ThaiPBSEngNews. pic.twitter.com/YAd5dv0Prf
— [Wim Dehandschutter] (@WDehandschutter) October 26, 2017
Koningin Mathilde droeg bij crematiecermonie van Thaise koning Bhumibol nieuwe, zwarte rouwkleding van @NatanCouture en hoed van @FDelvigne. pic.twitter.com/AKnqi3UnW2
— [Wim Dehandschutter] (@WDehandschutter) October 27, 2017
Koningin Mathilde (B) en koningin Máxima (NL) wonen uitvaartceremonie voor Thaise koning Bhumibol bij in Bangkok. Foto: @ThaiPBSEngNews. pic.twitter.com/YAd5dv0Prf
— [Wim Dehandschutter] (@WDehandschutter) October 26, 2017Koningin Mathilde droeg bij crematiecermonie van Thaise koning Bhumibol nieuwe, zwarte rouwkleding van @NatanCouture en hoed van @FDelvigne. pic.twitter.com/AKnqi3UnW2
— [Wim Dehandschutter] (@WDehandschutter) October 27, 2017Later that year, the Diamond Butterfly Brooch made another appearance, this time used to pin the Sash of the Belgian Order of Leopold for the lavish ceremonial Cremation of King Bhumibol Adulyadej of Thailand in Bangkok.
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More recently, the Diamond Butterfly Brooch was paired with the Wolfers Necklace Tiara for the State Banquet in honour of the Australian Governor General Sir Peter Cosgrove and Lady Cosgrove at the Royal Castle of Laeken in 2018. Lets hope we see this splendid loan
The Belgian Royal Tiaras | Diamond Fringe Earrings | Diamond Scroll Earrings | Wedding Earrings | Waterfall Brooch | Tunisian Parure | Aquamarines | Diamond Butterfly Brooch
