1
The Countess of Flandres tiara, gold and silver, diamonds, and pearls, Belgium, circa 1830
© National Museum of Qatar
Object Name: Tiara
Provenance: England
Dimensions: 3.2cmx13cmx14cm, weight:74g
Medium: silver,diamond,pearl,gold
Registration Number: QM.2018.0089
Place Of Discovery/Findspot:  Qatar
2
Gold and silver tiara, the circlet consisting of a continuous line of diamonds surmounted by diamond festoons each supporting a pearl linking diamond and pearl fleurons resting on a collet set diamond base.
Provenance: Descendants of the Duchess of Vendôme. During the nineteenth century, although so many European monarchies were doomed, court life continued as brilliantly as ever, and quantities of jewellery shone out at balls, receptions and dinners.
Like the strawberry leaf, the fleuron is a motif associated with royalty which is reflected in the provenance of this elegant tiara, first owned by Princess Josephine of Hohenzollern Sigmaringen, then by her daughter, the Countess of Flanders, sister in law of Leopold II King of Belgium, who bequeathed it to her daughter, Henriette, Duchess of Vendôme.
All three royal ladies seem to have had a preference for this attractive design combining the sheen of pearls with the sparkle of diamonds in their official portraits, as illustrated by C. Vachlaudez, Bijoux des Reines et Princesses de Belgique (2004) pp. 78-79. Light and easy to wear, it looks equally well worn low on the brow or high on the head.
HISTORICAL CONTEXT QATAR
The Qatar Peninsula is surrounded by sea except in the south where it connects with its neighbours from the Arabian Peninsula. For hundreds of years people have shared the land, resources and knowledge inherited from their environment. With no fixed lifestyle in terms of time and place, people moved easily and freely between land and sea for trade, livestock, pearl diving, fishing, and hunting at various times throughout the year. This symbiotic relationship between the people and their environment was represented in the unity of their societies, including the exchange of knowledge, stories and the trading of available goods.

A distinctive characteristic of life on the Qatar Peninsula has long been the close association between the coast and the desert – al barr. Some desert tribes spent several months of the year in coastal cities, setting up semi-permanent residences to participate in pearl diving or fishing. Similarly, coastal residents occasionally moved to al barr during the winter to graze their livestock. This exchange of natural resources and the influence of different environments has contributed to the creation of a unique community.
HISTORICAL CONTEXT - REGION/GULF/WORLD
The presence of British, French and Dutch trading companies in the Gulf from the early 1600s brought uncertainty to the region, with unstable alliances and intense competition over trade routes. As trade flourished, however, the strength of the Arab tribes increased. Many Arab tribes moved from the interior of the Arabian Peninsula to Qatar, and by the 18th and 19th centuries, most of the major towns of the Gulf were founded. Several towns flourished on the Qatari coast, including Huwailah, Khor Hassan, Fuwairat, Ruwaida, Freiha, Al Bidda and Doha. The most notable was Al Zubara which became a hub for the Gulf pearl trade.
PUBLICATIONS AND RESEARCH
Scarisbrick, Diana & Vachaudez, Christophe. 2008. Brilliant Europe Jewels from European Courts, p.296. Van Grotenhuis van Onstein, Vinciane. 2008. Diamond Divas. Scarisbrick, Diana. 2007. Tiara: Dignity and Beauty. Vachaudez, Christophe. 2004. Bijoux des reines et princesses de Belgique.
LOCATE ON QATAR MAP
Qatar
locate in museum map
Gallery 7