The crown jewel of the permanent exhibition is the diadem of Grand Duchess Stéphanie von Baden, made of pearls and diamonds and likely made in Paris.
A piece of jewelry in original condition.
The diadem consists of a gilded circlet with crown-like points, richly set with pearls and diamonds. Notwithstanding pearls that were added later, the piece of jewelry is in its original condition. It was likely made in Paris at the beginning of the 19th century.
In the first half of the 19th century, ladies wore their hair pinned up, with locks of hair left down to frame the face. Diadems, placed in the hair at an angle, therefore looked decorative rather than regal and were worn at receptions and balls.
Stéphanie bequeathed the diadem to her daughter.
After Stéphanie's death in 1860, her daughter, Joséphine von Hohenzollern-Sigmaringen, inherited the valuable piece of jewelry. After being inherited several times, the diadem became the possession of Marie José of Belgium, who married Prince Umberto of Italy, the last Italian king, in 1930. In the end, the headdress was offered at auction in London and purchased by the State of Baden-Württemberg for Mannheim Palace.
The shimmering headdress of the grand duchess can be found in the "Art and Culture at the Court of Mannheim" exhibition on the ground floor of the palace. A good opportunity to look through all the other spectacular exhibits!
