Today marks the 10th Anniversary of the Death of Mary, Duchess of Roxburghe, who passed away on this day in 2014! The daughter of the 1st Marquess of Crewe and granddaughter of Hannah de Rothschild, Countess of Roseberry, who married, and later divorced the 9th Duke of Roxburghe, the Duchess possessed a magnificent jewellery collection, which included this spectacular Cartier Tiara!
When Lady Mary Crewe-Milnes, daughter of the Marquess of Crewe, married the 9th Duke of Roxburghe in 1935, she received this magnificent Art Deco Cartier Tiara, set throughout with circular-cut diamonds surmounted by a graduated series of thirty-one collet-set diamonds. The Tiara was a wedding gift from the Duke, one of the largest landowners in Scotland whose mother was the American Heiress Mary Goelet.
Two years later, the Duchess of Roxburghe served as a one of the Canopy Bearers for the Queen, along with three other Duchesses, during the Coronation of King George VI and Queen Elizabeth at Westminster Abbey in 1937, for which she could have possibly worn this Tiara, though no images of her were made public.
The Duchess wore the Art Deco Cartier Tiara when she presided over the Queen Charlotte Ball at Grosvenor House in London, cutting the giant birthday cake with 208 candles while a host of debutantes performed a solemn curtsey.
The Duchess of Roxburghe retained her Jewels after her acrimonious divorce, with her being forced to leave Floors Castle after a six-week siege, but she wore the Art Deco Cartier Tiara for the Victoria League Ball in London in 1956.
Mary, Duchess of Roxburghe was also pictured wearing the Art Deco Cartier Tiara at a Gala with Mary, Duchess of Devonshire (who wore her Cartier Opal Tiara) the following year.
The Duchess inherited West Horsley Place from her mother, the Marchioness of Crewe, in 1967, where she lived until her death on this day in 2014, at the age of 99. Her magnificent Jewels were in the Bank in London.
Visiting the bank where jewels belonging to the late Mary, Duchess of Roxburghe (and four massive oak chests full of silver and vertu) had been on deposit was something else. Four tiaras and ropes of pearls and diamonds and a huge quantity of treasure emerged from the darkness. Some of the objects wrapped in newspaper from 1953, the year of her divorce, hidden for over half a century. The sea of red leather cases and bespoke Cartier cream boxes (each with the initial M in Celtic font) was overwhelming and the contents mind boggling
Following the Duchess’ death, West Horsley Place was inherited by her grandnephew Bamber Gascoigne, who auctioned off much of the Duchess’ jewellery collection to fund the restoration. The highlight of the sale were three splendid Tiaras, including the Art Deco Cartier Tiara.
The Duchess of Roxburghe’s Art Deco Cartier Tiara has an estimate of 295,000 – 495,000 CHF, but eventually sold for 2,410,000 CHF. Its current location is unknown.
Duchess of Roxburghe’s Cartier Tiara
Devonshire Tiara
Devonshire Diamond Rivière
Ruby Clasp
Wellington Tiara
Diamond Earrings
Diamond Tassel Earrings
Buccleuch Diamond Belt Tiara
Buccleuch Emerald Tiara
Buccleuch Mayflower Tiara
Buccleuch Turquoise Tiara
Buccleuch Pearl and Diamond Tiara
Bagration Spinel Tiara
Rosebery Tiara
Diamond Necklace
Westminster Myrtle Wreath Tiara
Diamond Fringe Tiara
Westminster Halo Tiara
Northumberland Tiara
Duchess of Sutherland’s Tiara
Duchess of Bedford’s Tiaras
Marlborough Tiara
Portland Tiara
Duchess of Norfolk’s Sapphire Necklace
Rutland Tiara
Argyll Tiara
Manchester Tiara
Dufferin Tiara
Bath Tiara
Milford Haven Ruby Kokoshnik
Duchess of Devonshire’s Tiaras
Devonshire Parure
Ruby Clasp
Craven Brooch
Insect Brooches
