The British Crown Jewels: The Crown of Mary of Modena

The Crown of Mary of Modena

Next in importance in the Crown Jewels are the queen’s crown or diadems:  the Crown of Mary  of Modena, consort of James II;  the diadem of the same queen; and  the State crown of Queen Mary, consort of George V.

The first of these crowns, the Crown of Mary of Modena, the consort crown made in 1685 for Mary of Modena, Queen of England, Scotland and Ireland, and wife of James VII & II. In 1685, Mary of Modena, wife of James II and VII, was the first queen consort to be crowned after the restoration since her brother-in-law, Charles II, was unmarried when he ascended the throne in 1660.

Three pieces of headgear were made for the queen: a diadem to wear in procession to Westminster Abbey, a coronation crown for the crowning, and a state crown to wear upon leaving the Abbey. The crown was made by Richard de Beauvoir and he wrapped it with diamonds valued at £35,000. Meanwhile, de Beauvoir and his team of jewelers charged £1,000. The entire cost was paid out from the queen’s own pocket. She also commissioned two new sceptres and a coronation ring for the ceremony.

The Crown Mary of Modena is of the usual formal shape and studded throughout with diamonds and pearls, no colored stones being used. Queen Anne, in her statue outside St. Paul’s cathedral, may be seen wearing this crown. The diadem of Mary of Modena has along its upper edge a row of large pearls rising to a point in the front, with a single diamond at its highest point. Beneath this is a rich floral spray, in thick gold open-work, having large diamonds as leaves and flowers. On each side of the spray is a succession of large rosettes with large diamonds in their centers and small diamonds set all round them. The crown was eventually used by future queens consort up until the end of the 18th century.