Princess Isabel d’Orleans, great-granddaughter of Dom Pedro II, was the last to wear in public one of the jewels stolen from the Louvre Museum, in Paris, this Sunday (19), a sapphire necklace that belonged to Queen Maria Amélia of France, married to King Louis Philippe I.
For Paulo Garcez Marins, historian and director of São Paulo, this set of jewelry is not only a valuable relic, but also carries one.
“This stolen item passed among the descendants of the Orleans family until it reached the Countess of Paris” stated Marins, in references to the great-granddaughter of , the last owner before the museum acquired the sapphire necklace.
These were inherited by Isabel from the family of her husband, the Count of Paris, who was also her relative. The set of sapphires was acquired by Louvre em 1985.
“These pieces were last used by a descendant of the Brazilian Imperial House, cousin of the last owner, Henri d’Orleans, the Count of Paris,” says Marins.
For the expert, it was precisely this provenance that led the set of sapphires to enter the Louvre when the Count of Paris sold the pieces to the museum. “Thus, these jewels began to be exhibited at the Galerie d’Apollon.”
According to the Louvre Museum, this necklace is made up of eight sapphires of different sizes and 31 diamonds. All the necklace chains are articulated, revealing the great technical perfection of this set.
Family ties make this story even more fascinating. Despite not having a direct connection with Brazil, Maria Amélia da França had a son, François de Orleans, prince of Joinville, who married Princess Francisca de Bragança, sister of Dom Pedro II. “This relationship reveals the complexity of interactions between European and Brazilian royalty” says Marins.
Although they did not directly belong to the Brazilian Imperial House, their connection is undeniable for the specialist. And he mourns other priceless jewels lost this Sunday.
“It’s a shame that it was also stolen. It’s especially sad, considering the complexity of the negotiations for its acquisition over the years,” lamented Marins. “It really was a disaster.”
