The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1901-03-24
GEMS IN THE ENGLISH CROWN
Jewels and Historic stones to Excite
the Envy of DespOts.


According to usage in a full state cere-
monial at the opening of Parliament by
I the sovereign, the crown is carried on a
/ cushion by a nobleman in the royal pro-
/ cession as it enters the House of Peers.
| The crown was recently seen at the royal
funeral by many thousands of spectators,
who had little idea what it contained.
The following description of ii, taken
from ''Debrett's Peerage," may be of in
terest: The imperial state crown was
made in the year 1898 with jewels taken
from old crowns and others furnished by
command of her Majesty Queen Victoria.
1t consisted of diamonds, pearls. rubies.
sapphires. and emeralds set in silver and
gold: it has crimson velvet cap with
errnine border, and is lined with white
silk Its gross weight is thirty-nine
ounces five pennyweights Troy. The lower
part of the band. above the ermine border.
consists of row of 120 pearls, and the
upper part of the band a row of ll2
pearls. between which, In front of the
crown. is large sapphire partly drilled
purchased for the crown by King George
~. AT the back is a sapphire of smaller
size and six other sapphires Ghree on
each side). between which are eight emer-
aids. Above and below the seven rap
phires are fourteen diamonds. and around
the eight emeralds Us diamonds. Be
tween the emeralds and the sapphires are
sixteen trefoil ornaments. containing six
teen diamonds. Above the band are eight
sapphires surmounted by eight diamonds,
between which are eight festoons consist
ing of l4S diamonds. In front of the
crown and in the centre of a diamond
Maltese cross. is the famous ruby. said
to have been given to Edward, Prince of
Wales. son of Edward III, called the
Black Prince. by Don Pedro, King of Cas-
tile, after the battle of Najera, near Wit
toria a D. 1861 This ruby was worn in
the helmet Of Henry V at the battle of
Agincourt, A. d. 14l5.
Ii is pierced quite through after the
Eastern custom. the upper part OF the
piercing being filed up by a small ruby.
Around this ruby, in order to form the
cross, are seventy-five brilliant diamonds.
Three other Maltese crosses, forming the
emerald centres and contain, respective
ly. 122, 12i, and 40 brilliant diamonds. Be
tween the four Maltese crosses are four
ornaments in the form of the French
feur-de-lis. with four rubies in the CEN
ire, and surrounded by ruse diamonds
containing, respectively. IS, IS, and 81
rose diamonds. From the Maltese crosses
issue four imperial arches composed of
oak leaves and acorns; the leaves con-
tain I2S rose, table, and brilliant dia-
monds; 81 pearls form the acorns. set
in cups containing "a rose diamonds and !
one table diamond The total number |
los brilliants. ITO table. and t59 rose dia-
monds From the upper part of the |
arches are suspended four large pendent |
pearls, with rose diamond |
cups. containing u rose diamonds, and 1
stems containing "A very small rose dia- |
monds. Above the arch stands the mound |
in the lower hemisphere 204 |
brtlliants, and in the upper PA brilliants
the zone and arc being composed of % |
rose diamonds. The cross on the sum- |
nit has rose-cut sapphire in the centre, |
surrounded by four large brilliants and |
lUS smaller brilliants. Summary of Jewels /
comprised in the crown: one large ruby
rregulariy polished, l large broad-spread |
s $, PinI .e u sapphires; II emeralds,
diamonds, 147 table diamonds, 1 drop- |
shaped pearls. and 373 pearls