WEARERS OF STRANGEJEWELLERY.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXIV, Issue 13946, 1 January 1906, Page 11

WEARERS OF STRANGEJEWELLERY.

i (Pearson’s Wetl:ly.) Sir Thomas Lipton is said to be the possessor of a breastpin which is a perfect model of the: yacht Shamrock 111. The yacht floats on a sea of emerald, and by twirling the pin can be made to more forward and pitch and toss as if actually in the sea. A lawsuit lately reported from Dresden shows that Sir Thomas Lipton’s breastpin is by no means unique in freakishness. The subject of the suit was a lady’s bracelet, composed of a chain made up entirely of tiny gold and jewelled motor-cars. The lamps were represented by diamonds, behind which shone tiny electric lights. More democratic'is the taste of a Mrs Weigein. All this lady’s jewels in some way refer to her husband’s business, that of a railway contractor. A necklace is made like a section of rails, the metals being gold and the sleepers coral. A brooch is shaped like" a turntable, while the signal lamps and flags, for which her husband contracts, are inlaid in emerald on a gold bracelet. The, German Chancellor, Count von Bulow, wears a life-buoy breastpin. / While staying at Heligoland many years ago he rescued k Hamburg •gentleman ■ who had fallen off a tugboat by throwing him a life-buoy. As ,a token of gratitude the rescued man presented his saviour with the pin. A marvellous watch has been made for a Nancy gentleman named Ducrot. The double case, which is about as broad as a sixpence, is made of two large emeralds hollowed out. Inside are a dial and chronometer works, a . compass and a guide to the movements of the moon and planets. The watch, including the two emeralds, cost over £BOOO. Musical jewellery is not unknown. 'A Milanese named .Fassicomo is said to have given, his wife a bracelet which tinked forth three different .tunes. An artificer in Odessa lives wholly by inventing jewelled. freaks. Among his productions are gravestone breastpins, bracelet puzzles, which can bo unclasped only by. turning the inset gems in a particular ' .way, and talking brooches. Talking brooches can be made to flash forth such simple words as “yeis” or “no,” and are in great demand among young ladies who expect offers of marriage. '.'A’Sah Francisco'gentleman ■ has’’a jewelled pipe.V The pipe is mad© of meerschaum, covered with a thin sheet of gold, in which are set pearls, sapphires and diamonds., * The tiara of a lady of the same city , represents the inmates of.'a Noah’s ark. ' Round the .edges are set jewelled horses, cows, lions, bears, serpents and birds. At the back is an artificial . oyster, carved out of mother-o’-pearl, : representing, according to the owner’s opinion, the crown of the animal creation. •- ’ ■ In Leipsic is a lady who possesses a peacock brooch, the fail of which is set with stones coloured in exact imitation of that of a real peacock. The tail distends or closes at the owner’s, will. When the Kaiser painted 'his famous .picture of “ The Yellow Peril,” a Ber•lin jeweller put it on the market in the form of a brooch, the.figures being do■picted in enamel. Another piece of “topical” jewellery was issued in St Petersburg shortly after the investment of Port Arthur. It was a gold brooch on which, set in coloured gems, appeared a big Russian wresting, a Japanese flag from one of his diminutive enemies. The King of Italy inherited from his ancestors a set of shirt studs, each of which is set with a big diamond containing a sapphire. The diamond completely surrounds the sapphire, and where the joining is no jeweller has ever been able to discover. Among other articles of freak jewellery owned by the same gentleman is a scarf-pin shaped like a lighthouse, the jewelled top of which revolves, and a pair of sleeve-links containing watch, compass and a snuffbox. Among the treasures of the Gaekwar of Baroda is a pair of earrings, each made of a single ruby hollowed out and containing a few drops of a precious perfume. Another Indian poten- * tate glories' in a jewelled breastplate showing the possessions in precious stones. Three years ago the Czar Nicholas sent as a gift to Paris a map of France, with all the departments shown in gems obtained in the Ural mines. .