Wedding jewels reflect the taste and style of the time and often
the preferences of the groom, but May of Teck was an jewel victim
and and she had her own taste. Although most antique wedding jewelry
has been dismantled and remade, select pieces have survived.
On the picture above, from the year 1901 - we see an arrangement
of a lot of her gifts:
1 - The ‘Girls of Great Britain’ tiara Garrards, 1893;
altered 1914 A wedding present for Princess May of Teck (the future
Queen Mary) from the ‘Girls of Great Britain and Ireland’,
bought with money raised by a committee chaired by Lady Eve Greville.
It could also be worn as a necklace. Queen Mary later replaced the
pearl finials with diamonds and removed the lozenge-pattern bandeau
from the base so that it could be worn as a headband. Both tiara
and bandeau were given by Queen Mary to Princess Elizabeth as wedding
presents. In 1969 the bandeau was reunited with the tiara M:7 x
21 x 19.5cm
2 - Diamond Riviere Necklace, (gift from Prince of Wales - future
King Edward)
This necklace was to be Mary's wedding gift for her marriage to
the Duke of Clarence. On February 27, 1892 . Queen Mary wore the
necklace at her wedding
3 - 5-row Pearl Necklace of 520 pearls, wedding gift from her Prince
George her groom White
Logde
3 - Diamond and Pearl Pendant from the People of Richmond, a diamond jeweled pendant with a pearshaped large pearl. The Mayor of Richmond (Alderman Charles Burt), accompanied by several his colleagues on the executive committee, presented the handsome diamond brooch, with pearl pendant, costing £500, which has been subscribed for by residents in the borough of Richmond; designed by Hunt and Roskell....
4 - Diamond and Pearl Necklace, with Earrings to match, presented
by some Ladies of England, executed by Hunt and Roskell
5 - Diamond set bow brooch with large pendant pearls The Committee met yesterday to select the Kensington gift to Princess May, and chose a diamond brooch with a pearl pendant. The ladies on the Committee will present ' the gilt in a few day. The General Committee for the Yorkshire County • present to the Duke of York and Princess May recently ' met in Loudon, when it was announced that the total , amount received and promis d amounted to £1,200. - Inhabitants
of Kensington
6 - 3 tier Diamond Stomacher - probably made from other jewelled
Ornaments from wedding presents??
7 - Dorset Bow Brooch
9 - Diamond and Pearl Chocker worne as cuff
More pearl royal wedding gift to Queen Mary
A magnificent necklace of three rows of pearls with diamond clasp was presented by 23 counties - it was valued at £6000 Sterling.
The Marchioness of Londonderry, writing to us from Londonderry House, Park Lane, informs that the amount collected in twenty-three counties for a combined counties’ gift to the Princess Victoria Mary Teck her marriage with His Royal Highness the Duke York was £6,350 17s 6d.
A very handsome pearl necklace was the gift chosen for the bride, and the balance of the amount (£800) given to the Victoria Disaster Relief Fund. Durham, it may mentioned, was one the combined counties which subscribed the wedding gift, and Lady Londonderry acted as collector. Lady Cork wax general treasurer to the fund. Lady Cork has received the following letter from the Duchess of York:—“Dear Lady Cork,—l shall be very grateful to you if you will be good enough to convey warmest and most heartfelt thanks to the donors the beautiful pearl necklace for their great kindness in giving me such lovely present the occasion of wedding. I shall indeed greatly value it token their affiction for me. cannot say more.-Believe me, dear Lady Cork, very sincerely yours. Mat.”
A very beautiful necklace and pearl earrings from the ladies of Devonshire. White Lodge, Richmond Park, Surrey, June 28th, 1893. Dear Biddulph,—Pray accept and convey to the ladies England most grateful thanks for the very beautiful necklace and pearl earrings from the ladies of Devonshire, which they have kindly given me wedding gift. Will you assure them that I shall always value their present as token of affection to and mine, ami ever remember their great kindness!— Believe me, your very affectionate, May.
A pearl necklace - County of Kent
THE KENTISH ROYAL WEDDING, PRESENT. We are requested to state that the amount subrscribed from the county aud boroughs of Kent [ towards making a presentation gift to H.R.H. the Duke of York, and He.- Serene Highness, the Princess Victoria Mary of TecK, on the occasion of their marriage, reached £1,560 14s. (id. A very handsome pearl necklace, by the Princess' desire, was chosen by a Ladies Committee, and purchased at Messrs. Garrard's.
A book in a white vellum, luxuriously bound, surmounted by the arms of Kent, and beginning with an illuminated inscription, contains the names of all the subscribers. The presentation by the Countess Stanhope, and a representative committee of the ladies of Kent, took place on Saturday afternoon, at White Lodge, Richmond Park .vThe Princess very graciously expressed her warm appreciation of the gift, and we understand that it is the intention of her Serene Highness to write a letter of acknowledgement to the county which will be made public in due course.
A pearl necklace with diamond clasp - presented by a thousand of her Majesty's subjects
A pearl necklace with diamond clasp from the Ladies of Glasgow consists of 51 pearls, graduated from the centre, with the largest being about the size of an ordinary pea. The length of the necklace is 14 inches. The clasp consists of eleven diamonds set in gold. The pearls were valued at 930 pounds and the total cost was close to 1000 pounds (The Scotsman, 30 June 1893) Messrs R.+W.Sorley
A pearl and diamond bracelet from the King and Queen of Würtemberg
A Diamond and pearl brooch/pendant - the Ladies of Surrey
The Needlework Guild brooch the wedding present from tho Surrey Needlework Guild (£181) has exceeded the cost of the bracelet presented by the Hon. Mrs. Holland (hon. secretary) last Monday by over £30, the balance will be forwarded, by desire of Princess May.
A hair comb, studded with diamonds and pearls — Sir Thomas and Lady Lucas
A pearl and diamond bow brooch from her husband
A brooch in pearls and diamonds — the Duke of Portland
A pearl brooch pearl pin from Lady Mary Arkwright
A pearl brooch from the Earl of Lathom
A pearl brooch Lady Lindsay
A Pearl brooch Lady Galway.
A brooch stutted with large black pearls from Lord and Lady Rothschild
A magnificent diamond and pearl bracelet from the Indian Princess
A pearl and diamond bracelet from Lord and Lady Burton
A diamond and pearl acorn brooch from Lady Lindsay
A pearl and diamond ring, designed by Collingwood, presented by Princes Adolphus, Francis and Alexander of Teck to her sister.
Source:Royal Collection,Dover Express,The Graphic Royal Wedding
Number 23 July 1893, The Times ,Illustrated London News, July 9
1893,
