Mary Tudor pearl
The Mary Tudor pearl or simply The Tudor pearl is an
asymmetrical drop-shaped pearl featured in at least three portraits of Queen Mary I of England and estimated to be 64.5 carats, 258 grains in weight and dated to 1526.[1] It is often mistakenly depicted as the La Peregrina pearl
, however, Mary Tudor could never have worn the Peregrina as it was first recorded in 1579, 21 years after her death.
The Tudor Pearl disappeared in the late 16th century. A similar pearl was sold at auction in 2004 by London jewellers Symbolic & Chase and named the Smithsonian, who make no claims of its history or provenance.[3]
History
The Tudor pearl was found around 1526 and was given to
negotiations for her marriage to Juana's brother, Philip of Spain and is seen in contemporary portraits, suspended from a circular golden brooch.[4] In Mary's will, she specifies other gems Philip gave her, including large diamonds but does not mention the pearl.[5][6]
A 1554 portrait of Mary I by
National Portrait Gallery didn't have an original painting of Mary, they donated their recent acquisition.[8]
References
- ^ The mystery of the Queen's pearl
- ^ The Tudor Pearl
- ^ "Smithsonian exhibit statement". Smithsonian. Retrieved 4 May 2018.
- ^ Alexander Samson, Mary and Philip: The marriage of Tudor England and Habsburg Spain (Manchester, 2020), p. 111.
- ^ The Mary Tudor Pearl at Tudor Times.co.uk
- ^ Frederic Madden, Privy Purse Expenses of Princess Mary (London, 1831), p. cxcviii.
- ^ The world's most famous pearl at BBC Culture
- ^ Queen Mary I by Hans Eworth - oil on panel, 1554 at the National Portrait Gallery, London