Grand Duchess Maria-Ana’s Pearl Négligée

Today marks the 165th Anniversary of the Death of Grand Duchess Maria-Ana of Luxembourg, who was born on this in 1861! The Portuguese Infanta who married Grand Duke of Luxembourg and was the mother of six daughters, two of whom became Grand Duchesses, we are revisiting Grand Duchess Maria-Ana’s Pearl Négligée!

Grand Duchess Adélaïde Tiara | Empress Zita’s Diamond Tiara | Pearl Négligée

A small diamond bow with two large pear-shaped pearls suspended at different asymmetric lengths in the négligée style that was popular in the first decade of the 20th century, this piece is of unknown provenance but dates from the early 20th century.

The Pearl Négligée was notably worn by Grand Duchess Maria-Ana at the Wedding of her daughter, Princess Antonia, to Crown Prince Rupprecht of Bavaria in 1921, suspended on a fine chain alongside a two-row pearl necklace and a diamond rivière.

The Pearl Négligée was later given to Grand Duchess Charlotte, who wore it as a pendant for a portrait with the Grand Duchess Adélaïde Tiara in the 1920s.

Following the tribulations of the Second World War, the Grand Duchess Maria-Ana’s Pearl Négligée was worn as a Brooch by Grand Duchess Charlotte at the Wedding of her son, Hereditary Grand Duke Jean of Luxembourg, and Princess Josephine-Charlotte of Belgium in 1953, as well as on a State Visit to the United States in 1963.

In 1956, Grand Duchess Maria-Ana’s Pearl Négligée Brooch was worn by Princess Elisabeth of Luxembourg, the eldest daughter of Grand Duchess Charlotte, for her Wedding to the Duke of Hohenberg.

After Grand Duchess Charlotte’s death in 1985, the Pearl Négligée was notably worn by Grand Duchess JJoséphine-Charlotte for the Wedding of her nephew, Crown Prince, now King, Philippe of Belgium in 1999.

Grand Duchess Maria Teresa has worn Grand Duchess Maria-Ana’s Pearl Négligée Brooch on numerous occasions, including for the Wedding Gala of Crown Prince Frederik of Denmark in 2004, a Public Mass at the Vatican in 2005, King Carl XVI Gustaf’s 60th Birthday Gala in 2006, and National Day in 2010.

Grand Duchess Maria-Ana’s Pearl Négligée Brooch was also worn by Archduchess Marie Astrid of Austria for the Funeral of her father, Grand Duke Jean of Luxembourg, in 2019.

More recently, Grand Duchess Stéphanie wore Grand Duchess Maria-Ana’s Pearl Négligée for an official visit from the Portuguese President, no doubt honouring Grand Duchess Maria-Ana’s Portuguese roots. There is no doubt we will continue to see this spectacular Heirloom for year to come!