Jewellery, Watches, Silver and Objects of Vertu

A Royal Presentation jewel, 19th century, composite, comprising the Prince of Wales feathers, set throughout with rose-cut diamonds, issuing from a coronet, with motto ‘Ich Dien’ against red enamel, the whole enclosed within a blue enamel garter, suspending two rigid tassel drops below, the caps inlaid with blue enamelled scrolling detail above a white enamelled border, the whole gold mounted, the garter engraved to the reverse with the inscription:

‘From the Duch.ss Ida of Saxe Weimar had belonged to Queen Adelaide Dec. 1849’, with detached later brooch fitting, length 57.5mm. £1,000-£1,500

Formerly the property of 1st Earl Mountbatten of Burma, thence by family descent.

Princess Ida Caroline of Saxe-Meiningen, Duchess in Saxony, (1794-1852) was a German princess, and daughter of George I, Duke of Saxe-Meiningen. In 1816 she married Prince Bernhard of Saxe-Weimar-Eisenach, a distinguished soldier.

Ida was the younger sister of Princess Adelaide of Saxe-Meiningen, (1792-1849), who married William, Duke of Clarence in 1818. She became Queen on William IV’s accession to the throne in 1830.

The inscription engraved to the reverse of the jewel includes the date 1849, the year of Queen Adelaide’s death. The Queen died on 2 December with no living children. The word ‘Dec’ may reference the month of her death, or is perhaps an abbreviation for the word ’Deceased’. The upper section of the jewel, bearing the inscription, may originally have been a memorial piece from Ida, in memory of her beloved sister. Ida was to live for another three years, until 1852.


The current composition of the jewel has most likely been altered from its original form.