The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1884-08-27
THE GROWN JEWELS OF FRANCE.
Precious Stones which Once Were Worn bv
Famous Women

Precious Stones Which Once Were Worn by
st. James Gazette.
The approaching sale of the French crown
Jewels suggests some interesting reflections to
a lady who signs herself Dame d'Atours in =
description Of them which she has contributed ia
the Gaulois. The seven historical stones which
were among the first diamonds cut and which
were bought in Italy by Cardinal Mazarin.
whose name they retain. formed part of the re-
gala in the reign Of Louis XIV. The collective
value of these seven diamonds is estimated at
f2S0000 but one of the seven is to be re-
tanned by the government, and this will
considerably diminish the value of the six others
The only crown diamonds which Queen Marie
Antoinette wore were the large acorn shaped
stones which she could arrange either as brace
let's necklaces or stomaehers. She had some
magnificent aigrettes and clasps, and q great
many brooches for looping up her dresses, and
diamond sprays But these, like the splendid
ear rings which she always wore, were her own
property and the greater portion was handed
down to the Duchesse d'Angouleme, the remain
der being distributed among her friends. She
did not like the diaden, and generally wore on
state occasions the small crown which is placed
at the back of the head.
The Empress Josephine bad great fondness
for cofored stOnes being of the opinion that dia-
nnonds darkened her complexion; and as many of
the ceremonies during the empire took place in
the daytime, she wore chiefly sapphires and
rubes which latter she styled the setoff of bru-
nettes lie fard des bPunesl She often wore a
row of fiat perales over the forehead. The
Empress Maria Louise, being very fair, did not
mind wearing diamonds, and she was also fond
of sapphires, with the small crown of the same
Stones which are included in the forthcoming
sale, having belonged to her The Duchess
dAngouleme wore the diamonds bequeathed to
her by Marie Antoinette; and the Duchess de
Berry, who was renowned for her fam hair and
shapely arms, wore her finest jewels mounted
either as combs or braeelets-not the large combs
and heavy bracelets Of the French Empire; but
mo lfacf ft11a pfif
Queen Marie Amelie. wife of Louis Philippe
sometimes wore, in the form of a necklace
pearls belonging to the regalia; but she more fire.
quently wore the sapphires and diamonds
handed down by the Penthievre family Each
princess of the Orleans family received at her
marriage a full set Of damouds-diadem neck
lace, earrings, bracelets and sprays for the cor
sage-and was expected to wear them when nre-
scented at the T1ileries. these of the Duchesse
dAumale being specially remarkable. The Ouch
esse de Montpensier received very fine set oil
emeralds from the Spanish court, which are now
the property ofher daughter the Comtesse de
Paris, and curious story is told about them A
short time after his marriage, the Due de Mont
pensier gave large ball at Vincennes, and as
tho hair dresser had not arranged them in the
DuchesseS couture to his liking, he took her
hair down and arranged them according to his
fancy, while the guests who had arrived first
were Wilmington their host and hostess
The Empress Eugene wore the crown Jewels
more frequently Than any of her predecessors
and she completed the unesualled set Of pearls
which, with its four necklaces can be used as
stomacher or to garnish q train. The Empress
who for long time would not wear any orna-
ments which increased the height Of the fore
head, had very handsome Russian sliaderu.
which looks comparatively low on the forehead
made for her. This diadem reversed makes 4
very pretty neckhee. The Empress gradually
got to like the higher setting diadems. and ona
which in later years she frequently wore is that
of diamonds and tuFqnofses. which is included In
the sale. She sold shoot time ago. a dia-