Diamond set tiara arranged as a stylized Greek-key pattern flanked by honeysuckle motifs and centering on a diamond surrounded by triumphal laurels. The design of the jewel should remembers of the country of the husband of Princess Andrew of Greece, mother of the Duke of Edinburgh.
The motif is palmette (anthemion)and has an Greco-Egyptian origin generally used to represent fertility,among other symbologies like the Tree of life, etc.
The name honeysuckle was much posterior and originates from the apparent resemblance between the cited pattern and the flowers of this creep the Greek form of palmette is the anthemion. One of the variations which evolved is very similar to a honeysuckle motif.
The Greek Meander Tiara was made by Kreuter & Co Hanau in 1911, the sketch of the design was made as Nr 209, for a clearer greek pattern the meander was shorted and the center stone was later fixed, Princess Alice of Battenberg, Princess Andrew is pictured with the moving gem, hanging on two diamonds.
The Greeek Meander Tiara in diamonds was given to Princess Anna, the Princess Royal to her 18th birtdaa and worn also of her daughter Sara on her wedding day.
Thank you to Stefan Stern for sharing the sketch with me!
Sources:Royal Collection;Grafische Sammlung Stern;
