MELBA'S TIARA

Rotorua Morning Post, Volume 2, Issue 301, 15 August 1932, Page 2

MELBA'S TIARA

ITS DISAPPEARANCE GIFT OF RUSSIAN ROYAL GRAND DUKE. SEARCH IN PARIS. Where is Dame Nellie Melba's fa- • mous diamond tiara? It is to solve this question, just as much as to attend probate of the Diva's English estate, that Mr. and Mrs. George Armstrong and their danghter Pamela, have gone to England. Mr. Armstrong, Dame Nellie's only son, and the Trustees, Executors and Agency Co., Ltd., are the executors of the estate, and Pamela is one of the principal beneficiaries. It will be part of Mr. Armstrong's job to search every corner of Paris for even the slightest trace of the famous coronet. The identity of the Paris jeweller, however, is as much a mystery as the whereabouts of the tiara. The executors lcnow, but they will not say how they know, that the tiara was talcen by Dame Nellie to a Parisian jeweller to have some of the stones re-set just before she made her last voyage to Australia. The executors know that the value of the tiara was approximately £20,000. And they know, too, that it must not be confused with the "small" tiara which is among the late diva's collection now locked up in the bank vaults of Melbourne. This ornament is worth "a mere £600," at least that is its value for probate purposes. Melba's jewels, without the missing tiara, have been valued for probate at £13,986 15s. And most of : them are to go to Pamela Armstrong, j her grand-daughter.

Grand Duke's Gift. Most of Melba's best jewels were presents from Royalty. The missing tiara was one of them, or at least the p«ersonal friends of the great singer were always led to believe that was so. She had had it a great many years, and it was said to have been a present from the Grand Dulce Michael of Russia. When it was given to her or under what circumstances is perhaps known to few people, but they have no intention of telling anything about it. It is surprising how few of Melba's closest associates have ever seen the tiara, yet one would think Melba had worn it as often as a boudoir cap, judging from the gossip it has created. It is strange that Melba, who, after all, was a woman, with a woman's love of fine jewellery, should have remained so reticent as to the history of the coronet. Of course, she was always aloof to a certain degree, but even a princess would feel proud to wear the scintillating beauty that was the tiara. Mr. H. Cazneaux, art photographer, made a special study of the jewels. But Melba seemed to take little interest in them and, instead of p-roudly explaining their origln, sho spoke merely of an old and valued cloak she was wearing. Perhaps no man would b; better qualified to tell of any great evenl in Melba's life than John Lemmone, her friend, flautist and manager, who is now resident in Sydney. But, strangely enough, he admitted that he was unable to throw any light on the tiara. The Mystery. Then Mr. Lindley Evans, Sydney, pianist, who made many trips with the diva, declared that, although he had often seen her wearing- the tiara, not one suggestion as to its history had ever come from her lips. And so, in an effort to find whence it came, only complete ignorance was met. Mr. E. J. Tait, Percy Marks, the jeweller who handled all of Melba's jewels during her visits, other aequaintances — they could give no clue as to its origin. Every patron of the Melba-William-son operas of 1924 is certain that Dame Nellie wore the tiara on her last appearance in Melbourne, but ii she did there were no precautions taken against its theft. She was reported to have engaged two detectives to escort her through America, particularly to guard the famous tiara. Yet not even a single policeman was engaged to keep an eye on it during the operas in Melbourne. No member of the J. C. Williamson's "behind the footlights" staff can remember having seen the tiara, although they all remember that Melba was ablaze with jewels on that last night. Not a Clue. And it was the same when Melba attended the Prince of Wales' ball at Federal Government House, Melbourne. She was the outstanding figure at the most brilliant social function ever held in Victoria, so much so that the Prince hardly got a mention. But no one remarked on the famous coronet. Intimate friends and relatives do not believe that Melba sold the tiara in Paris, because all her other jewels have been accounted for, and she was known to have a truly deep affection for this particular mysterious masterpiece. So far the executors have failed to obtain a clue. That they believe the mystery lies overseas proved hy the fact that they have not askjad the Vietorian Criminal Investigation Department to make an inquiry. Perhaps it is waiting to be called for at some Paris shop.