Geschenk der Damen von Süd-Australien
Prinzessin von Wales Silberhochzeit Geschenk - 1889.
Das kunstvolle Behältnis, rechts oben im Bild, ist aus australischem Silber und enthält einen Choker in Australischem Gold mit Rubinen und Brasilianischen Diamanten. Das Set wird komplettiert durch ein Paar Südaustralische Gold- und Rubinarmreifen, jeder mit elf sehr großen Rubinen und 20 Diamanten besetzt.
Der Choker besteht aus fünfundzwanzig Elementen, jedes Ornament ist mit drei Rubinen und vier der Diamanten bestückt.
An dem Choker/Halsband ist ein Anhänger durch eine zweiteilige Goldkette befestigt, die zwei Füllhörner darstellen.
Eine schöne Muschel nimmt den Raum zwischen diesen beiden ein und in der Mitte befindet sich ein sehr großer Rubin, gerahmt von sechs Diamanten, während drei hübsche Rubine in Krappenfassungen angehängt sind, jeweils mit einem Diamant dazwischen.
Die aufwendige Verpackung stellt die Australische Flora und Fauna dar, in nicht weniger als zweitausendfünfhundert Einzelteilen und Kunst-Objekten und soll das größte seiner Art sein, das jemals in Australien von Silberschmieden gefertigt wurde (Stand 1889) es wiegt fast fünfhundert Unzen. Sir Edwin Smith und Messrs. Stevenson und Brothers in Adelaide haben es realisiert.
Princess of Wales Silver Wedding Anniversary gift - 1889.
The casket is of Australian silver, and contains a necklet of South Australian gold mounted with Australian rubies and Brazilian diamonds, and the set is completed by a pair of South Australian gold and ruby bangles, each one containing eleven very large rubies and twenty diamonds.
The collarette is made of twenty five links, and each link is set with three of the rubies and four of the diamonds.
Suspended from the collarette is a pendant attached by two pieces of cable chain, and sustaining two cornucopias. A beautifully chased shell occupies the space between these, and in the centre a very large ruby surmounts six diamonds, while close by three pretty coloured rubies hang gracefully in claw settings, a diamond surmounting the centre one.
The silver casket reproduced on this page forms the silver wedding gift of the ladies of South Australia to the Princess of Wales.
It is designed in two tiers and stands on four brightly burnished feet, the whole being surmounted by emblematic figures of Britannia and South Australia. The former figure is reclining on a wheel and supports in one hand the "Union Jack," while the other wields a trident.
South Australia holds aloft the Australian flag, which, like the "Union Jack," is appropriately gilded, and in the other hand she holds a cornucopia from which are pouring forth the productions of the colony.
The lower portion of the casket proper, which is designed for the reception of the jewellery accompanying it, is nearly oval in shape, and all the surface is elaborately carved. Folding doors ingeniously open to the front, revealing the jewellery reposing on a white plush ground in a chamber with rich gold satin walls.
Each door is formed in one panel artistically chased. The left door, illustrative of Agriculture, depicts a field of golden grain with the reaper at work in it, and in the distance, the spire of a little church is seen rising above a pleasant little clump of trees.
The top tier of the casket is octagonal, and has been arranged with slender burnished circular columns at the intersection of the sides. Two female figures in semi-relief constitute the ornamentation for the two narrow sides, and as seen from the front form a graceful outline. The lower portion of the figures terminate in foliage, which in turn give place to the plain surface of the sides. The horizontal portion of the base of the upper part is the groundwork on which the designer has given full scope to his artistic instincts. Gathered together are many specimens of the wilder growths of the Australian bush, groups of ferns, semitropical plants, brushwood and fallen timber.
It is claimed that the casket is the largest specimen of the silversmith's art that has ever been produced in Australia. It contains no less than two thousand five hundred pieces or parts, and weighs nearly five hundred ounces. The credit of originating the gift is due to Sir Edwin Smith, and the execution to Messrs. Stevenson Brothers of Adelaide
Source:The Art Journal, 1889: The Graphic, 1889;
Special thanks to Laura for her help!
Queen Alexandras Wedding gifts:
more jewels :
Jewels of Queen Victorias daughters, granddaughters
and daughters-in-law
Queen Mary Jewels
