Last month, the 4th Baron Rothschild passed away at the age of 87. The Head of the British branch of the prominent Rothschild Family, Lord Rothschild owned the spectacular Heirlooms of the Rothschild Family, which are on permanent display in the ‘A Rothschild Treasury’ Exhibition at Waddesdon Manor!
The permanent gallery houses more than 300 objects made from rare and precious materials. From a 1st-century cameo of Augustus Caesar’s grandson, to a microscope used by entomologist and flea expert Charles Rothschild, via jewellery given as presents from Queen Victoria, to objects bearing Nazi inventory numbers, gold boxes, silver and jewellery – this gallery displays items that celebrate the Rothschild family as collectors of extraordinary objects.
A Rothschild Treasury tells the story of generations of Rothschild collecting, and also reveals the interests and relationships of family members. Visitors will be able to see objects with personal connections, such as James de Rothschild’s coin collection, Baron Ferdinand’s watch chain, and Miss Alice’s seal and bracelet given to her by Queen Victoria.
A Rothschild Treasury not only reflects the Rothschild passion for collecting, but also the tradition of the Schatzkammer. These treasure rooms which celebrated the riches of the earth and natural world and were first created in European courts from the 16th century. Baron Ferdinand was so inspired by them that he created his own ‘Renaissance Museum’ in Waddesdon’s Smoking Room, now the Waddesdon Bequest at the British Museum.
Lord Rothschild said:
“I am truly delighted that the Treasury, the culmination of a long-held family ambition to extend the displays at the Manor, is opening this autumn. Many objects from my family’s collections, all with significant and personal connections, are being put on show for the first time.
The display is a homage to the Rothschilds who created and have cared for Waddesdon, and an expression of the ties which bind earlier generations to the present. I also hope that this new room, with its extraordinary and varied contents, will surprise, delight and intrigue our visitors as they explore. Even for those who think that they know Waddesdon and its collections well, there is much to discover.”
Ruby and Diamond Tiara
A Ruby and Diamond Tiara with a series of eleven ruby and diamond clusters, with detachable pear shaped ruby cluster surmounts, interspersed by old-cut diamond fleur-de-lis spacers, mounted on an old-cut diamond line, and in silver and gold. Probably made for Emma Louisa Rothschild (1844-1935); given to Nathaniel Mayer Victor Rothschild, 3rd Lord Rothschild, (1910-1990), c 1931; inherited by the 4th Baron Rothschild in 1990.
This set of matching jewellery, or ‘parure’ (a matching tiara, necklace, brooch and pair of earrings) was made in about 1880 for Emma Louisa, 1st Lady Rothschild. The tiara is adjustable, the upper tier of rubies can be removed for less formal occasions. It is set with diamonds that were cut by hand rather than by machine. ‘Old cut’ diamonds predate the mechanisation of diamond cutting.
Ruby and Diamond Parure
A ruby and diamond necklace, with a series of seven graduated rubies on an old-cut diamond line with festoon sections and ruby and diamond drops, a pair of ruby and diamond earrings, and a ruby and diamond brooch, made for Emma Louisa Rothschild (1844-1935); given to Nathaniel Mayer Victor Rothschild, 3rd Lord Rothschild, (1910-1990), c 1931; inherited by the 4th Baron Rothschild in 1990.
This set of matching jewellery, or ‘parure’ (a matching tiara, necklace, brooch and pair of earrings) was made in about 1880 for Emma Louisa, 1st Lady Rothschild. It is set with diamonds that were cut by hand rather than by machine. ‘Old cut’ diamonds predate the mechanisation of diamond cutting and were cut by hand.
Emerald and Diamond Tiara
An Emerald and Diamond Tiara, set with five graduated cabochon emeralds, on a band of diamonds set in platinum, was probably made for or given to Dorothy de Rothschild and was inherited by the 4th Baron Rothschild in 1988.
Emeralds are softer than diamonds, and naturally contain inclusions. Cabochons- stones polished into domes – prioritise the colour and lustre of the emerald, and are also less likely to show scratches.
Emerald and Diamond Parure
A Necklace composed of 10 square or rectangular table-cut emeralds, with a pear-shaped emerald surrounded by diamonds as a pendant, two pairs of earrings, and three emerald and diamond brooches, which originate form the collection of Empress Eugénie of the French.
Many of the individual emeralds in this necklace may have been acquired by Baron Edmond de Rothschild at the sale of Empress Eugénie’s personal jewels, which took place at Christie’s in London in 1872, and at which he is known to have bought emeralds. These impressive stones were then reset more fashionably in Paris at the beginning of the twentieth century. They became the property of Baron Edmond’s wife Adelheid, whom he married in 1876 and she in turn gave them to her daughter-in-law, Dorothy, James de Rothschild’s wife.
Probably given by Baron Edmond de Rothschild to his wife, Adelheid (1853-1935) and possibly made from emeralds acquired by him at the sale of Empress Eugénie’s personal jewels, which took place at Christies in London in 1872; inherited by her daughter-in-law Dorothy de Rothschild (1895-1988); inherited by the current owner 1988.
Boucheron Pearl and Diamond Tiara
This striking Boucheron Pearl and Diamond Tiara, featuring five graduated pearls in a framework of brilliant cut diamonds was commissioned by Baron Edmond de Rothschild as a wedding gift for his daughter-in-law Dorothy de Rothschild in 1913, which was inherited by the 4th Baron Rothschild in 1988.
This tiara/necklace was amongst the magnificent wedding gifts that the 17 year old Dorothy de Rothschild received from the Rothschilds when she married James de Rothschild in 1913. Her future father-in-law, Baron Edmond de Rothschild, ordered it from the Parisian jeweller, Boucheron. As a necklace, it had six large pearls, one hanging down as a pendant, and could be converted into a tiara at will, using a small tool kit that came with it in its case to attach it to a frame. However at a later date, the sixth pearl was mounted in a ring.
A photograph from 1913 in Boucheron’s archive shows the tiara as a necklace with a perfectly spherical pendant pearl of similar scale. Dorothy’s own jewellery inventory records that the sixth pearl was turned into a ring and the word ‘necklace’ is crossed out and replaced by ‘tiara’.
Diamond Bandeau
A Diamond Bandeau with an undulating pattern of leaves made from old brilliant cut diamonds, with nine larger diamonds representing flowers, sewn onto a black velvet band, which was given by Alexandrine de Rothschild as a wedding gift for her sister-in-law Dorothy de Rothschild in 1913, which was inherited by the 4th Baron Rothschild in 1988.
Ordered by Alexandrine de Rothschild from Boucheron in 1913 as a gift on her wedding day for her sister-in-law Dorothy de Rothschild (1895-1988); inherited by the current owner in 1988.
This modern piece of jewellery could be worn as a head-ornament as a less formal alternative to a tiara. It is composed of 368 diamonds and was a wedding gift from Alexandrine de Rothschild to her brother James’s bride, Dorothy. The two women corresponded frequently, and remained close until Alexandrine’s death in 1965.
Diamond Necklace
A Diamond Necklace composed of 45 large cushion-shape diamonds in collet settings, on a line of smaller diamonds, also in collet settings, was acquired by Alexandrine de Rothschild before 1940; bequeathed to Dorothy de Rothschild and inherited by the 4th Baron Rothschild in 1988.
This necklace and the matching earrings belonged to James de Rothschild’s sister, Alexandrine. The chain originally incorporated the four diamonds from which the earrings were later made. Long necklaces were particularly fashionable in the 1920s and it is likely that Alexandrine acquired it when she was in her 20s.
Diamond Earrings
A pair of Diamond Earrings, each composed of a collet-mounted cushion-cut diamond, suspended from a similar stone by a line of 5 smaller diamonds, also in collet settings, was acquired by Alexandrine de Rothschild before 1940; bequeathed to Dorothy de Rothschild and inherited by the 4th Baron Rothschild in 1988.
These earrings were originally part of a necklace belonging to James de Rothschild’s sister, Alexandrine. Long necklaces were particularly fashionable in the 1920s and it is likely that Alexandrine acquired it when she was in her 20s.
Diamond Pendant
A Diamond Pendant, of a pear-shaped diamond suspended from a smaller round old brilliant cut diamond, mounted in silver, acquired by Dorothy de Rothschild and inherited by the 4th Baron Rothschild in 1988.
Diamonds, which symbolise eternity, are one of the hardest stones, and these two were cut by hand before the mechanisation of diamond cutting.
Diamond Brooch
A cushion-cut old brilliant diamond set in platinum as a brooch given to Baroness Edmond de Rothschild in January 1933 by her husband; inherited by her daughter-in-law Dorothy de Rothschild; and inherited by the 4th Baron Rothschild in 1988.
This remarkable diamond is a pinkish colour and was probably mined in the Golkonda region of India (near Hyderabad). Before diamonds were discovered in South Africa, the Golkonda mines were the main source of diamonds, which were correspondingly much rarer. This diamond also retains its old proportions and cushion-shaped old brilliant cut, which makes it even more significant to historians. We know from archival sources that it was set as a brooch in 1933, though it was probably part of another piece of jewellery before that.
Pearl Earrings
A drop-shape pearl earring, with a rose-cut diamond cap suspended from two diamonds in collet settings, was given to Baroness Edmond de Rothschild in January 1933 by her husband; inherited by her daughter-in-law Dorothy de Rothschild; and inherited by the 4th Baron Rothschild in 1988.
This ‘pair’ of earrings, in fact made of two pearl pendants later converted into earrings (the cap at the top of each pearl is slightly different, one with more pointed ‘petals’ than the other) are made up of two extraordinarily lustruous natural pearls.
Baron Edmond de Rothschild evidently had a great interest in exceptional stones and pearls, often supplying gems he himself had bought to the jewellery firms he patronised to set into items of jewellery for his wife Adelheid. Her inventory reveals that she had 25 such drop-shaped pearls mounted with diamond caps.
Probably acquired by Baron Edmond de Rothschild for his wife Adelheid, Baroness Edmond de Rothschild (b.1853, d.1935); probably inherited by her daughter-in-law Dorothy de Rothschild (b.1895, d.1988); inherited by the current owner in 1988.
Mourning Brooch
A Diamond and banded agate heart-shaped brooch with ‘IN MEMORIUM’ lettering and lock of hair inside, probably commemorating Anselm von Rothschild (Ferdinand’s father).
This brooch probably commemorates the death of Anselm Salomon von Rothschild (b. 1803, d. 1874), father of Baron Ferdinand and Miss Alice de Rothschild, who inherited Waddesdon on her brother’s death. Mourning jewellery was popular in the late Georgian and Victorian periods, often with inscriptions recording the name, the date of death and the age at death. Such objects frequently contained a lock of hair of the deceased, as in this example.
Probably acquired by Baroness Mathilde von Rothschild (b.1832, d.1924) in memory of her father; probably inherited by Baroness Edmond de Rothschild (b.1853, d.1935); probably inherited by her daughter-in-law Dorothy de Rothschild (b.1895, d.1988); inherited by current owner in 1988.
