The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1898-12-17


IL now in the Louvre, originally pos
sesscd by Queen Marie de Medici. II
IS of rock crystal, and the frame was
| OF polished agate set in network OF
! enameled gold. This was but the inner
frame. The outer one was composed
entirely Of precious stones, consisting
! Of cardonyX, jasper rubies. emeralds,
and diamonds. When the inventory Of
| the crown diamonds was taken in 1871
| by order of the National assembly, this
| work OF art was valued at 100000 francs.
| 1t IS now in the Louvre.
The English royal collection has been
a gradual growth. The present repusi-
tory OF the English regalia is the Tower
of London. After the execution Of
Charles l. some of the older objects
were broken up and dispersed, and at
the restoration IL was necessary to re-
construct many of them for the kings
coronation. Nearly all the historic
pieces date no further back than the
time of Charles IL. The ancient regalia
comprises two crowns, on orb, sceptre
with a cross, a sceptre with a dove, a
long sceptre of gold, ring with ruby,
and several minor articles.
The most conspicuous and valuable
object in the collection is the crown OF
queen NlClblId, uldut lOI uti tOlblld-
tion in 1893. many of the Jewels being
of great antiquity In one of the crosses
in front Of the crown is set the famous
ruby which belonged to the Black
Prince The crown contains in all .
7SS diamonds. 277 pearls. rubies, II
sapphres, and II emeralds.
In the treasury of the imperial and
royal house of Austria. al Vienna. are
some remarkable specimens of work in
rock crystal, ewers, flagons and tank
ards, ornamented and engraved with
! elaborate scenes and landscapes, and
set With enamel, gold and precious
stones. These pieces We're used at the
coronation of the Austrian kings, or
70" their domestic service vase in
the same collection is formed of a single
Peruvian emerald weighing 1850 carats.
which is said to have been part of the
treasure of Burgundy. Here. also, is
the imperial crown of Austria. made
during the reign of Rudolph IL. 1t Is
of pure gold. richly adorned with dia =
monds, pearls and rubies. The CirClct
is of gold, encrcled with large, fiat dia-
monds and pearls two ranges of deep
ly set pearls decorating the border. The
upper border of the circlet is adorned
with four large and four small ileur-
de-lis ornaments bearing large rubies,
diamonds and pearls. The skeleton of
the CAP is composed of broad stripes of
enamel, accompanied by a range of
pearls on either side of the hoop which
divides the cap into two halves. Each
half is formed by two triangular plates
Of gold on which the principal scenes
of the coronation are wrought in bas
relief. The hoop is surmounted by a
| 1ittl. 4, l,. 90
matchless beauty. This is one of the
most remarkab bic specimens of German
eoldsmith's work extant. and in point
of value and general workmanship is
unique of its kind.
The imperial orb is very similar IN
style. The sceptre probably made for
| the coronation Of the Emperor Matthias
, in 1872 is somewhat similar in work
manship, but probably the most strik-
ing of all the jewels here displayed is
the diamond crown of the empress
, whose value exceeds | 800, 900 florins The
finest gems in this crown rcmarka BILE
in size brilliancy. and polish, We're part
of the private jewels of the Empress
Maria Theresa.
In the insignia of the Order of the
Golden Fleece, which contains $50 dia-
monds of great beauty, is the Frank
fort solitaire" a gem of the finest
water. weighing forty-two carats. pur-
chased by the Emperor Francis l. al
Frankfort. Several other decorations OF
the Golden Fleece are also worthy OF
notice one among them containing
seven brilliants weighing in the aggre-
gate over eiShty-nine CaratS. while still
others have large topazes hyacinths
Sarnets or ChrvsOlitcs clustered roun
with diamonds. \ grand cross of the
military order of Maria Theresa con-
tains rose-color"d brilliant Of twenty
six and one-eighth caratS; a complete
parure of ruhies, consisting of tiara
a girdle. necklace, a pair Of earring,
and watch. is interesting because of
the fine quality of the gems, and also
because it formerly belonged to the i'll
fated Marie Antoinctte, queen of
France.
Here is preserved the rose necklace
OF Maria Teresa, comprising thirteer
rose brilliants. large sized brillants
4 hllinG the Ccnters and eleven pendelu.
| ques set with large solitaire brilliants o.
wonderful beauty The famous Flor.
entne diamond, one of the largest dia.
l monds known. actually fills the trivia
+ role of hat button in the midst OF
: | this beWildering display. 1t weighs l3,
p l-3 carats, is sherry Colored, and is Sc
cut as to form a star with nine rays
p , The stone was once the property OF
2 | Charles the Bold of Burgundy who
r used to carry ii into battle with him
: as talisman. He lost 1t at the battle
of Morat in 1916 and after many
a changes of ownership, and lapse o
over 800 years, ii came into the Aus.
trian treasury through the marriage o
! | the Duke of Tuscany with Maria Ter
esa. Buttons for coats. waistCoatS anG
, | hats are formed, each one or more, Ot
= | magnificent topaZes set round will
: brilliants. A large hyacinth weighing
p 416 carats is fashioned into the body oi
an eagle, and a set of pearl necklaces
ana bracelets contains over 4S0 pearls
of varying size. some very large anC
fine. This faultless collection reflect!
, the taste and judgment of Maria
+, | Theresa.
y The famous Green Vaults of Dresden
] contain the jewels of the royal SaNony
family from earliest times and are one
e of the most wonderful treasure houses
2 in the world. The crown jewels in the
. jewel room consist of six or eight diff
I feTent sets, OF the first class, and are
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS