There has been an exciting discovery! The Köchert Archives have revealed that a Köchert Diamond Tiara currently on display in the ‘Dynastic Jewels’ Exhibition at the Hôtel de la Marine in Paris was among the Wedding Gifts to Archduchess Marie Valerie of Austria in 1890!
The Köchert Diamond Tiara was among five Tiaras given to Archduchess Marie Valerie, the youngest and favourite daughter of Emperor Franz Joseph and Empress Elisabeth, upon her marriage to Archduke Franz Salvator of Austria-Tuscany in 1890.
Drawings in the Köchert archives and contemporary newspaper reports show the design of the spectacular Tiara, and also display the versatility of the piece, which can become a Necklace, a pair of Earrings, and several Brooches and hairpins.
Following Archduchess Marie Valerie’s death in 1924, the Köchert Diamond Tiara passed down her descendants for nearly a century until being acquired a few years ago by the Al Thani Collection.
Currently, Archduchess Marie Valerie’s Köchert Diamond Tiara is on display, as the ‘Thun-Hohenstein Tiara’, in the landmark ‘Dynastic Jewels’ Exhibition at the Hôtel de la Marine in Paris where the Köchert Archivist, Beatrice Austerlitz, made the discovery linking the Tiara to existing drawings in the Köchert archives.
Additionally, several of Archduchess Marie Valerie’s other jewels, including her Köchert Pearl Tiara, are currently on display in the Exhibition ‘A. E. Köchert Jeweller to Emperor and Crown’ at the Royal Palace of Gödöllő, which ends on 6 April.
