Diadem of Pushkin's Granddaughter Exhibited in Hermitage

A family legend says, the jewelry must be back to Russia
A diadem that was made by St.Petersburg jeweler K.Bolin by order of Grand Prince Mikhail Romanov approximately in 1890 has been exhibited at the Gem Gallery of the State Hermitage for two weeks already. The diadem was a wedding present of the Grand Prince to his fiancee, Sofia Merenberg (1868-1927), Pushkin's granddaughter. They got married in San Remo in 1891.

The diadem is made of gold, silver, diamonds faceted in an old manner and cabochon rubies.

The rarity has unique sectional construction that allows using parts of the diadem as brooches and hair-pins. The masterpiece was created by the jewelry maker that supplied Russian emperors and then Swedish monarchs.

The marriage posed several problems. Sofia Merenberg, the daughter of Alexander Pushkin's younger daughter Natalya did not belong to the tsar family. That is why Emperor Alexander III did not recognize the marriage.

The newly wedded couple could not stay in Russia and moved to England. Queen Victoria granted the title of Earls De Torby to Sofia Merenberg and her descendants. The diadem has been a family jewel of the dynasty since that time.
 
Marchioness Sara Milford-Heaven, the owner of the jewelry today, made a decision to send the diadem to Russia as she remembered the family legend saying the thing must be brought back to Russia.

The heiress told her idea a friend of hers, famous businessman Artyom Tarasov who registered an insurance deposit (the diadem is valued at $5 million) and was allowed to have the jewelry for temporary use.

Artyom Tarasov established a charitable foundation called "Salvation of national cultural and historical valuables"; the businessman hopes to collect the deficient amount to bring the Russian relic back to the country, ITAR-TASS reports.

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Author`s name Michael Simpson
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