THE QUEEN'S STATE CROWN.

Globe, Volume XXII, Issue 1946, 20 May 1880, Page 2

THE QUEEN'S STATE CROWN.

The "Globe" contains the following description of the crown by Professor Tennant, mineralogist to her Majesty, in the Strand:— The Imperial State Crown of Queen Victoria, which Her Majesty wears at the openirg of Parliament, was made by Messrs SundeU and Bridge in 1838, with jewels taken from old crowns, and others furnished by command of Her Majesty. It consists of diamonds, pearls, rabies, sapphires, and emeralds, set in silver and gold ; it has a crimson velvet cap with an ermine] border, and is lined with white silk. Its gross weight is 390 z sdwt troy. The lower part of the band above the ermine border consists of a row of 129 pearls, and the upper part of the band of a row of 112 pearls, between which, in front of the orown, is a large sapphire (partly drilled), purchased for the orown by His Majesty King George IV. At the back is a sapphire of smaller size, and six other sapphires (three on each side), between which are 8 emeralds, Above and below the seven sapphires are 14 diamonds, and around the eight emeralds 128 diamonds. Between the emeralds and tho sapphires are 16 trefoil ornaments, containing 160 diamonds. Above the band are eight sapphires, surmounted by eight diamonds, between which are eight festoons, consisting of 148 diamonds. In the front of the crown, and in the centre of a_ diamond Maltese cross, is the famous ruby said to have been given to Edward Prince of Wales, son of Edward 111., oalled the Black Prince, by Don Pedro, King of Castile, after the battle of Najera, near Vittoria, A.D. 1367. This ruby was worn in the helmet of Henry V. at the Battle of Aginccurt, A.D. 1415. It is pierced quite through, after the Eastern custom, the upper part o£ the piercing being filled up by a small ruby. Around this ruby, in order to form the cross, are 75 brilliant diamonds. Three other Maltese crosses, forming the two sides and back of the crown, have emerald centres, and contain respectively 132,124, and 130 brilliant diamonds. Between the four Maltese crosses are four ornaments in the form of the French fleur-de-lis, with four rubies in the centres, and surrounded by rose diamonds, containing respectively 85, 86, and 87 rose diamonds. Prom the Maltese crosses issue four imperial arches composed of oak leaves and acorns ; the leaves contaia 728 rose, table, and brilliant diamonds; 32 pearls form the acorns, sets in cups containing 54 rose diamonds and one table diamond. The total number of diamonds in the archeß and acorns is 108 brilliant, 116 table, and 559 rose diamonds. Prom the upper part of the arches are suspended four large pendant pear-shaped pearls, with rose diamond caps, containing 12 rose diamonds, and stems containing 24 very small rose diamonds. Above the arch stands the mound, containing in the lower hemisphere 304 brilliants, and in the upper 224 brilliants, the zone and arc being composed of 33 rose diamonds. The cross on the summit has a rose-cut sapphire in the centre, surrounded by four large brilliants and 10S smaller brilliants.