How shocking is the countess’s complete set of emerald jewelry from 200 years ago? The one-horned deer will give you the answer

In 1845, Queen Victoria received a gift - a tiara set with diamonds and emeralds, designed by Prince Albert himself.

At that time, Victoria and Albert had been married for six years, but they were still as sweet as first love. Victoria, who received the jewelry, praised her husband's taste in her diary and wrote:

"The lovely diamond and emerald tiara jewelry is my dear Al Designed by Albert."

In fact, in the past few years, Albert had successively given an emerald necklace, a pair of earrings, and a brooch to the Queen. . This tiara was the last piece of Queen Victoria's emerald jewels.

This group of emeralds is rich and brilliant, and its unique inclusions make each gemstone as charming as a spring or summer garden.

Today, more than 100 years later, jewelry experts from top auction houses will say: No royal jewelry collection is complete without a collection of top-notch emeralds. In the 19th century, Victoria's emeralds not only imbued the majesty of the royal family, but also witnessed the infinite tenderness between the queen and the prince. The set of jewels could still be seen in the Queen's official portraits until two years before Albert's death.

However, our story today takes place earlier than Victoria's love. About 20 years ago, in France, across the sea from Britain, a young French Duke met a British aristocratic girl.

The lush green "garden" among these emeralds is where the French Duke placed his hopes.

The love of the fathers

This marriage begins in the early 19th century. In 1814, a British aristocratic girl named Henrietta followed her mother to Paris.

Although it had experienced the Great Revolution, France at that time was still the most fashionable and luxurious place in Europe. During the social season, noble men and women often found the spark of love at balls.

A portrait of a woman from the Dundas family at the end of the 18th century.

Henrietta in the story was the only daughter of the Dundas family at that time.

However, in 1815, France would experience great changes again. Soon, Napoleon I will enter exile. Parisians have to avoid the war, but at the same time they understand the value of peace and joy.

Miss Henrietta from England did not just return home. In the next few years, in the distance of gunfire, she will meet and get to know her future husband - the 3rd Duke de Coigny of France who is commanding the army. His full name is Augustin-Gustave de Franquetot.

Generations of Dukes of Quaney own many mansions and estates such as Franquetot Castle and Ravalet Castle in Normandy, as well as Poligné Castle in the Mayenne Province. Members of this family have accompanied successive French emperors in their campaigns.

Since at least the 17th century, the Franquetot family has led the army for generations and has made great achievements. In the early 19th century, the young duke's marching footsteps extended to distant Russian battlefields. When he finally returned from the war, he took the hand of Henrietta, the rich British lady, and the two of them, like almost all young people at that time, understood that the love they shared was hard-won.

In 1822, the war finally calmed down, and Henrietta married into the Duke of Quaney's family and became the third duchess.

Today’s Franquetot Castle still retains its grandeur and ancient style. In the past, the Duke and Duchess may have raised their two daughters here

30 years later , Henrietta died in 1852, leaving the Duke and his daughter.

The fate of his daughter

His wife has left and his eldest daughter has been married. The only thing that Duke Quaney has to worry about now is A few years ago, the marriage was decided for the youngest daughter Georgina.

At this moment, the father will inevitably be filled with emotion. He may seem a little awkward, but he always hopes that his daughter can achieve long-term happiness

I wonder if it is because of listening to parents 20 Due to a love story many years ago, or perhaps influenced by her British mother, the youngest daughter of a French Duke's family was attracted to a young British man. She chose to leave Normandy and marry across the strait.

The young man on the left is the future 3rd Earl of Manvers of England. In a few years, he will become the son-in-law of Duke Quaney and the husband of Georgina.

In the blue drawing room of Thoresby Hall, the ancestral home of the Earl of Manforth family, the portraits of the third Earl and his wife Georgina once hung symmetrically. On both sides of the door, but now, the portrait of the lady is hard to find.

The Duke Franquetot family once had a great beauty known in France named Anne-Fran?oise, who was a close friend of Queen Mary of France. Unfortunately, few portraits of Georgina survive. Today we can still feel the elegance of generations of aristocrats from this portrait of Georgina’s daughter, Lady Mary.

Georgina’s husband was born into an earl family that took root in Nottinghamshire. His family was well off, but he was also gentle and down-to-earth. The young earl inherited the title a few years ago and became a member of the British Parliament, diligent in government affairs. Duke Quaney must have felt relieved when he walked into the church with his daughter.

Tolsby, the mansion of the Earl of Manforth family in the 1900s

Before his daughter got married, the old French Duke may have met Queen Victoria Wearing luxurious emerald jewelry, when he handed Georgina's hand to Count Manfuss, he also gave his daughter the best emerald in the family.

46 natural emeralds from Colombia are oil-free to medium oil, high quality, bright and rich color, with a total weight of 80 carats.

Made around the 1850s, a brooch from Georgina’s wedding period contained an emerald weighing 7.7 carats.

The old Duke had these brooches The gemstones were set into ornate jewelry, and several more pieces were added to the set in addition to several earlier pieces created in the 1830s.

The two strand bracelets in the set can be worn separately or connected to form a necklace.

There are 25 emeralds on the necklace, which are cushion-shaped and mixed-cut, bright and clear. There are "small pendants" on the necklace. This is the classic Fringe style necklace popular in the 18th and 19th centuries. It can be found in many top-level jewelry customized by royal nobles.

Full of old-fashioned and old mine-cut diamonds surrounding the emerald, the bright light must have made Countess Georgina from France the focus of the night banquet.

How come a countess’s jewelry set lacks an exquisite ring? This ring made in the 1890s is not Lady Georgina’s wedding ring, but a piece of jewelry that was customized later.

Each of these luxurious emeralds given to me by my father was produced at a slightly different time. The complete set was completed at the end of the 19th century and carefully collected in exquisite custom-made outer boxes.

These emeralds accompanied Georgina for half her life. Together with her, in the quiet life after marriage, she ushered in the birth and growth of five children, and also ushered in the dances and dances in the manor. Dinner.

Most of today's Towersby House was built by Georgina's husband in the 1860s. Whether this husband was as romantic as Prince Albert, we have no record or record today. The literature can be scrutinized, but we can feel from this magnificent building and some descriptions of the count that he always placed family and Georgina in an extremely important position.

In the 20th century, under the paintbrush of the 6th Countess, Tolsby's blue drawing room remained as gorgeous as ever.

Just like the lush green space and woods outside Thorsby Mansion every year, the unique "garden" among emeralds is full of the blessings of the fathers for life and love. Accompany her from her childhood in Normandy, to a sweet and warm married life, and then to her old age peacefully.

Today, part of Tolsby House has become a luxury hotel

In 1918, when Georgina was in her nineties, she was still able to write steadily and write down what was most important in her heart. people and things. Turning over the custom box that comes with this set of jewelry, you'll see her handwriting.

"Georgina, Countess of Manforth, wishes that the jewels which she inherited from her father may henceforth remain in the hands of the master of Tolsby House.—— April 1918, Manforth"

When writing these lines, she must have thought of her father, the Duke of Quaney. In the chaotic world, the Duke fell in love with his mother from England. He spent half his life accompanying his daughter to grow up, and he also used the richest gems to make wishes for his daughter's happiness.

Perhaps, she still remembered her emotions when she first became familiar with the various parts of the British manor after her marriage, and recalled her father's teachings to her daughter as a duke in her childhood, accompanied by her husband's soft calls and calls in her ears. The sweetness in the air and all the memories are so beautiful.

In the mid-to-late 20th century, the last Earl and Countess of Manfuss only had the only daughter in the painting, who had no children and failed to inherit the Earl's title of nobility. Now, there is no longer an Earl and Countess in Tolsby House, where Georgina once lived.

The world has changed, but this set of emerald jewelry, which has always been cherished by Georgina, has been fortunate enough to survive. After a long time, it has not been dismantled and has not been worn out. Compared with similar antique jewelry Extremely rare.

When the brilliance of these emeralds and diamonds shines into your eyes, will you also think of your parents who once protected you and your lover who was silently by your side?

19th century countess collection emerald jewelry set

Collected by British and French noble families from generation to generation

Rich emeralds of high quality

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Centennial diamonds are brilliant

A complete set of jewelry is rare in the world

Inheriting the deepest love