Josephine Queen of Sweden|Royal Swedish Cameo Tiara Bernadotte|Beauharnais Royal Imperial Jewels

Made in 1811 by Nitot (later known Chaumet) this cameo, pearl and diamond parure was owned by the Empress Josephine, the first wife of Napoleon, then her daughter Hortense of Beauharnais, spouse of Louis Bonaparte, King of Holland.

In 1823 Queen Hortense presented it to her niece, princess Josephine of Leuchtenberg, when she married prince Oskar of Sweden, later King Oskar I and since then, the set is part of the Swedish royal collection.

The color of this historical bridal tiara is very special; it's white: it consists of pearls, heightened with 7 cameo's who depict mythological figures. In the centre there's the crowning of love (mother and child), to where portrait-cameos of a man and a woman aim their sight. On the backside portrait-cameo's are interchanged with a godess who has a putti on her lap (caretaker) and a man with a staff (guard).

It consists of a cameo-tiara, a cameo-necklace, a cameo-bracelet, a cameo-brooch, a pair of cameo-earrings, and it's probably one of the oldest pieces of jewelry in this collection.

The cameo of this diamond-set brooch represents the profile of Emperor Napoleon.

The Royal Swedish cameo tiara

It was describes the very first evening 'back home' (Stockholm) after the extended honeymoon when newly-wed Princess Sibylla wore the cameo parure (including a necklace and bracelet) which she had received from Prince Eugen of Sweden, as a wedding present.
The parure originates from Napoleon's wife, Josephine de Beauharnais. Her grandchild and namesake married King Oscar I of Sweden. Among her numerous & precious jewels was this cameo-parure.
After Queen Josephine`s death they ended up with her daughter Eugenie, who really wasn't particularly interested in precious things and rather wanted to help her charities. She wanted to sell most of her jewelry, but doubting if the cameo set was to be sold 'outside' the Royal Family, wanted to 'auction them off' among her relatives first.
The highest bidder would be the new owner. Prince Eugen, who liked his paternal aunt very much, was the lucky one... and he kept this treausere safely stocked away at his home Waldemarsudde.
The author of the book mentions that it could be very well possible that Prince Eugen simply inherited these cameo's from his aunt..

Since the Prince never married the jewels were not used, however he would graciously let his female relatives borrow them, from time tot time.
At the time of the wedding of his cousin Edmund to Sibylla in the year 1932, Prince Eugen decided this parure was to be the wedding-gift!
Thus Sibylla wore the parure for the very first that first evening after her honeymoon at the Opera in Stockholm.

At the Royal Court’s wedding website, where its wearing the majestic, unique and beautiful tiara on weddings, is described as a tradition .

Sources:"Sibylla, en biografi" by Roger Lundgren;Bernadotte Foundation,Royal House Sweden