............Als die Erzherzogin Maria Reinera, den Herzog Robert von Württemberg
in der Kapelle der Hofburg im Oktober 1900 heiratete, war der kaiserlichen
Hof und Kaiser Franz Joseph anwesend.
Dieser Tage war der Trousseau der Erzherzogin Maria Immaculata Raineria im Palais Rainer der Besichtigung zugänglich.
In zwei großen Sälen waren die Schätze aufgestapelt, welche die Ausstattung der Erzherzogin bilden, ein dritter Raum faßte die reichen und kostbaren Hochzeitsgeschenke, die dem jungen Paare dargebracht wurden. Ein großer Glasschrank enthält den kostbaren Schmuck der Erzherzogin Braut:
Wunderschön ist die Hochzeitsgabe von Herzog Albrecht und Herzogin Margaretha Sophia von Württemberg, ein Halbdiadem aus Opalen und Brillanten,
die anderen Geschwister des Bräutigams, prächtige Schmuckgegenstände aus Opalen und Brillanten gespendet................
In the grand tapestry of European royal history, the marriage of Archduchess Maria Immaculata of Austria-Tuscany to Robert, Duke of Württemberg, stands as a poignant chapter. Their union, celebrated on 29 October 1900, was a confluence of two illustrious dynasties, each with a rich and storied past.
The Bride Archduchess Maria Immaculata of Austria-Tuscany
Maria Immaculata was born into the House of Habsburg, a lineage that had ruled over Tuscany until the Italian unification in the 1860s. Her father, Archduke Karl Salvator of Austria-Tuscany (1839-1892), was the second son of Leopold II, Grand Duke of Tuscany (1797-1870). Her mother, Princess Maria Immaculata of Bourbon-Two Sicilies (1844-1899), was the daughter of King Ferdinand II of Naples (1810-1859) and his second wife, Queen Maria Theresa, an Archduchess of Austria-Teschen (1816-1867). This lineage imbued Maria Immaculata with a heritage steeped in both political and cultural significance.
Robert, Duke of Württemberg
Robert, Duke of Württemberg (1873-1947), was the second son of Philipp, Duke of Württemberg (1838-1917) and Archduchess Marie Therese of Austria-Teschen (1845-1927). Philipp was the head of the Catholic junior line of the House of Württemberg, a line that held the potential to inherit the throne of the Kingdom of Württemberg, as King Wilhelm II (1848-1921) had no male heirs. Robert’s older brother, Albrecht (1865-1939), was styled as Württemberg’s Crown Prince and married Archduchess Margarete Sophie of Austria (1870-1902), the niece of Emperor Franz-Joseph and sister of Archduke Franz Ferdinand, whose assassination in 1914 would spark World War I.
The marriage of Maria Immaculata and Robert was not only a union of two noble families but also a strategic alliance. The couple had the intention of founding a cadet line or Secondogenitur of the House of Württemberg. However, their marriage remained childless, and the majority of Maria Immaculata’s extensive jewellery collection was eventually inherited by the descendants of their nephew, Albrecht Eugen, Duke of Württemberg (1895-1954), the second son of Albrecht, Duke and Crown Prince of Württemberg.
Maria Immaculata’s Jewellery Collection
Around 1930, Maria Immaculata meticulously inventoried her jewellery collection, a task that revealed her deep appreciation for the items she possessed. Each piece was described in detail, with its provenance recorded on the opposite page. This collection was a blend of wedding gifts received in 1900 and the inheritance from her mother, who was known for her passion for pearls. Maria Immaculata’s faith was a central pillar of her life, and she often gifted jewellery to churches and abbeys. She cherished cameos from Popes Pius IX and Leo XIII, and her collection included commemorative insignia from significant religious events, such as the 23rd International Eucharistic Congress in Vienna in 1912 and the 64th Katholikentag in Stuttgart in 1925.
Maria Immaculata’s dedication extended beyond her family and faith. During World War I, she served as an auxiliary nurse for the Württemberg army from August 1914 to January 1919. Her service was recognized with numerous awards, including the Royal Bavarian Verdienstkreuz in October 1916, the Royal Württemberg Charlotten-Kreuz, the Baden Kriegshilfe-Kreuz, the Prussian Louise and Red Cross Orders, and the Imperial and Royal Austrian First Class Red Cross Order with War Decoration. In 1917, she also received the Royal Sachsen Ehrenkreuz. Her efforts were acknowledged even decades later, with the German Red Cross awarding her a medal in June 1960 for her wartime service.
Despite her royal status, Maria Immaculata led a relatively discreet life, focusing on family and religious activities. Her meticulous inventory of her jewellery collection provides a unique insight into her personality and the values she held dear. Her life was a testament to the blend of duty, faith, and personal devotion that characterized the lives of many royal women of her generation.
The story of Archduchess Maria Immaculata and Duke Robert of Württemberg is one of noble lineage, strategic alliances, and personal dedication. Their union, though childless, left a lasting legacy through the jewellery and honors that continue to be cherished by their descendants and the institutions they served.
Opal Parure of Archduchess Maria Immaculata of Austria-Tuscany – A Timeless Royal Treasure
The exquisite Opal Parure belonging to Archduchess Maria Immaculata of Austria-Tuscany (1878-1968), Duchess of Württemberg, is a masterpiece of royal jewelry, rich in history and craftsmanship. This parure consists of several extraordinary pieces, each steeped in provenance and delicate design, showcasing opals set in diamond borders. Below is an overview of this exceptional collection and its historical background.
The parure, with its opulent design and rich provenance, reflects the central role of jewels in royal European society. Archduchess Maria Immaculata meticulously cataloged her jewelry in a personal inventory during the 1930s, offering unique insights into her collection. These jewels were mostly inherited or gifted as part of her 1900 marriage into the Württemberg family. Notably, her husband’s brothers and sisters contributed to the wedding tiara, while other pieces were personal gifts from close family members.
- Opal Tiara
The centerpiece of the parure is an opulent opal and diamond tiara, designed as a series of acanthus leaves alternating with scrolls, surmounted by a ribbon in openwork, set in cushion-shaped and circular-cut diamonds with rose diamond accents. It features detachable cabochon opals bordered by rose diamonds, accompanied by a fitted case stamped "Elimeyer Dresden."
This tiara was a wedding gift to Archduchess Maria Immaculata in 1900 from her husband Robert, Duke of Württemberg’s siblings and spouses. The choice of Elimeyer, the Dresden court jeweler, suggests the strong connection of Robert’s sister Isabella, Princess Johann Georg of Saxony, to the Saxon court. The tiara remains an extraordinary example of early 20th-century craftsmanship.
2024 Auction Price: CHF 74,400
- Pair of Opal and Diamond Brooches:
- Each collet-set with a cabochon opal within a border of old cushion-shaped diamonds, accented by rose diamonds.
- Attested by the handwritten inventory of Archduchess Maria Immaculata, no. 18.
Princess Maria Antonia of Bourbon-Two Sicilies, Grand Duchess of Tuscany 1814-1898 presented her daughter-in-law Princess Maria Immaculata of Bourbon-Two Sicilies with a pair of rigid pearl bracelets to which these opal and diamond brooches were the clasps as a wedding gift in 1861. The bracelets were inherited by her daughter and name-sake Archduchess Maria Immaculata of Austria-Tuscany who transformed them into a choker, she retained the clasps and had them converted into the present pair of brooches.
- Dimensions: Measuring approximately 45 x 30mm.
- Weight: Total gross weight approximately 31 grams.
- 31,200 CHF.
- Suite of Opal and Diamond Pendants:
- Comprising nine graduated pendants, each set with a pear-shaped cabochon opal within a border of circular-cut diamonds.
- Wilhelm II, King of Württemberg1848-1921 and his wife Charlotte of Schaumburg-Lippe, Queen of Württemberg 1864-1946 presented this suite of opal and diamond pendants as a wedding gift to Archduchess Maria Immaculata of Austria-Tuscany in 1900.
- 24,000 CHF Sotheby's Geneva, 2024.
- Opal and Diamond Brooch/Pendant:
- Set with an oval cabochon opal within a border of rose diamonds, suspending a detachable pendant similarly set.
- A wedding gift from Nikolaus, Duke of Württemberg, to Archduchess Maria Immaculata in 1900.
- Dimensions: Measuring approximately 55 x 25mm, surmount measuring approximately 25 x 15mm.
- 13,200 CHF Sotheby's Geneva, 2024 .
- Opal Bracelet:
- A gold and opal bracelet.
- Given by Robert, Duke of Württemberg, to Archduchess Maria Immaculata on their eleventh wedding anniversary on 29 October 1911.
- Dimensions: Inner circumference approximately 190mm.
- 3120 CHF (Sotheby's Geneva, 2024).
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