Queen Emma's Devant de Corsage

      

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In 1879 upon arrival in the Netherlands as the new consort of King Willem III, Queen Emma received a National Present from the people of the Netherlands. The present consisted of a collet set necklace of 34 large diamonds and a large neo-greque style diamond devant de corsage with a large diamond in the centre and three pendants. The set was made by Jeweller Jitta in Amsterdam.

Queen Emma and Queen Wilhelmina have worn the devant de corsage on many occasions. Queen Juliana wore her grandmothers wedding gift often with the Diamond Bandeau Tiara that was made using 27 stones from the diamond rivière.

Strangely, the beautiful devant de corsage has not been seen for decades although it seems that the oval shaped pendants from the brooch are now used as earrings by Queen Beatrix, Princess Maxima and Princess Laurentien*.

Sketch of the wedding gift The devant de corsage The pendant
HM Queen Emma HM Queen Wilhelmina HM Princess Juliana
HM Queen Wilhelmina HM Queen Juliana HM Queen Juliana
 
HM Queen Juliana HM Queen Juliana  
HRH Princess Maxima * HM Queen Beatrix * HRH Princess Laurentien *
 
  HRH Princess Maria Carolina * HM Queen Beatrix *  

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