Primadonna girl

The Russian Beauty

The Russian Pearl Pendant Kokoshnik, also known as The Russian Beauty, was created for Empress Alexandra Feodorovna in 1841 by court jeweler Bolin. The kokoshnik-shaped tiara features 25 large natural pearls, suspended from pointed diamond arches, floating over a diamond base. 

This tiara became a favorite of Empress Marie Feodorovna (1847-1928), wife of Tsar Alexander III, and mother of the last Tsar. She loved it so much that she kept the tiara at her home, even though it wasn’t her’s but belonged to the crown jewels. 

Unfortunately it was left behind when the Russian revolution hit in 1917 and has changed hands many times since then. Here’s what we know:

The Bolsheviks are presumed to have sold it to Christie’s to profit the revolution around 1920

Christie’s sold it at auction to Holmes & Co. in 1927

Holmes & Co. sold it to the 9th Duke of Marlborough for his wife Gladys

After her death it was auctioned in 1978 and bought by the London trade

It later ended up with Imelda Marcos, the controversial former First Lady of the Philippines. The tiara was confiscated when the Marcos family fled the Philippines to Hawaii in 1986.

silver dollar pancakes, multigrain waffles, maple cookies, sugar waffle crisps

SPAIN. Madrid. 1993.

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Pena Palace, Sintra, Portugal