Empress Eugenie Pearl and Diamond Tiara - (France)
The tiara was created in the middle nineteenth century for Empress Eugenie by Napoleon III for their wedding. The pearls and diamonds from the state treasury were used. The design of the tiara was neoclassical and used over 1500 diamonds. The tiara was used by Eugenie for formal occasions until she had access to the French crown jewels.
After Napoleon III was exiled from France the tiara was later put up for auction. The tiara was purchased by Messrs Julius Jacob and then acquired by Prince Albert I, the Prince of Thurn and Taxis, in 1890. The tiara remained in the Thurn and Taxis family for 100 years. In 1992 it was sold to Amis de Lourve (Friends of the Lourve), who then gave the tiara to the Louvre. The tiara is on display at the Louvre.
