HER MAJESTY’S STATE CROWN.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume VII, Issue 10, 7 March 1891, Page 14

HER MAJESTY’S STATE CROWN.

The Imperial State Crown of Queen Victoria, which her Majesty wears at the opening of Parliament, was made in 1838, with jewels taken from old crowns, and others furnished by command of her Majesty. It consists of diamonds, pearls, rubies, sapphires, and emeralds set insil ver and gold; it hasa crimson velvet cap with ermine border, and is lined with white silk. Its gross weight is39oz. 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 border of 112 pearls, between which, in front of the crown, is a large sapphire (partly drilled) purchased for the crown 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 eight emeralds. Above and below the seven sapphires aie 14 diamonds, and around the eight emeralds 128 diamonds. Between the emeiald and sapphires are 16trefoil ornaments; containing 160 diamonds. Above the band are eight sapphires sui mounted 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 HL, called 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 Agincourt, a.d. 1415. It is pierced quite through, after the Eastern custom, the upper part of 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 Maltese crosses are four ornaments in the form of the French fleur-de-lys, with four rubies in the centre, and surrounded, by rose diamonds, containing respectively 85, 86, and 87 rose diamonds. From the Maltese crosses issue four imperial arches composed of oak leaves and acorns; the leaves contain 728 rose, table, and brilliant diamonds; 32 pearls form the acorns, set in cups containing 54 rose diamonds, and one table diamond. The total number of diamonds in the arches and acorns, 108 brilliant, 116 table, 559 rose diamonds. From the upper part of the arches are suspended four large pendent pear-shaped pearls, with rose diamond caps, containing 12 rose diamonds, and stems containing 24 very small lose diamonds. Above the arch stands the mound, containing in the lower hemisphere 304 brilliants, and on the upper 224 brilliants, the zone and the 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, ana 106 smaller brilliants.— Silversmith's Trade Journal.