11, 12. THE BRITISH CROWN JEWELS. Left: The Crown of England, known as St. Edward’s Crown because it was copied, in the time of Charles II, from the ancient crown worn by Edward the Confessor, has been used by many of England’s monarchs for their coronation. Right: The Imperial State Crown is worn by the reigning monarch on all State occasions. Made in 1838, it embodies many historical gems, including the Black Prince’s Ruby, a sapphire from the ring of Edward the Confessor and the second Star of Africa. In all, the crown contains 2,783 diamonds, 277 pearls, 17 sapphires, 11 emeralds and five rubies. (Courtesy of the British Information Services)
13. REMODELLING THE IMPERIAL STATE CROWN. Remodelling work in progress at the Goldsmiths & Silversmiths Company in London.
14. EMPRESS ELISABETH OF AUSTRIA. This portrait of one of the beauties of 19th century Europe shows the young Empress wearing hair ornaments of diamond stars which have quivering centers.
The Vogue of the Pearl
The notorious pearl-drinking dare of Cleopatra caught the fancy of the Romans. The serpent of the Nile dissolved a union (the Roman word for pearl was unionem, in this case truly symbolic) worth half a million dollars, and drank it as a pledge to her Antony. Cleopatra killed herself rather than walk in the triumph of Emperor Augustus, but the Emperor’s favorite, Agrippa, we are told, secured the mate to Cleopatra’s pearl. She had this great pearl halved, for the ears of the statue of Venus in the Pantheon.