This season we’re taking a magical and mysterious pursuit through the world of Royal Regalia: A History of Splendour, a topic that has been long-awaited and requested many times from our wonderful listeners.

In the first episode of this season we’re taking a look at a country with one of the most magnificent histories and royal jewel collections, Denmark.

Matthew and Alyce dive into the incredible collection and the fascinating stories that accompany it, including how Denmark acquired jewels from other countries, along with explaining the historical lineage and ownership within the families, where you can see these beautiful garnitures and their personal favourite pieces.

THINGS WE SPOKE ABOUT

A brief history of the Danish Royal Family lineage
The Danish Crown Jewels collection
Measuring jewels on centuries of history over carats, like Queen Margrethe
How a French General’s ruby parure ended up in Denmark
The newly crowned Queen of Denmark’s thoughtful wedding gift

MORE INFORMATION

Denmark’s Crown Jewels

https://www.kongehuset.dk/en/royal-collections/the-crown-jewels/

Crown Jewels and Danish Royal Property Trust Jewellery

https://www.kongehuset.dk/en/news/crown-jewels-and-danish-royal-property-trust-jewellery

Christian IV’s crown

https://www.kongernessamling.dk/en/rosenborg/object/christian-ivs-crown/

Social Media

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Tik Tok - @matthew.weldon
YouTube - @courtvilleantique
Pinterest - @courtville

Gem Pursuit is produced for Courtville by Dustpod.io.

QUOTES

The jewellery is intrinsically linked to the history of any of the houses and it is through history that a lot of these jewels end up being in certain collections. - Matthew Weldon

This is a serious collection. What I love about Queen Margaret, she's on record as saying, about the jewellery, that she doesn't count the carats, she counts the centuries. - Matthew Weldon

When you look at the history behind their jewellery, the way that they've been able to keep their hands on some of these items is beyond amazing. - Alyce Ketcher

All jewels tell a story, and this particular piece really is such a standout piece from their collection, it is so important to the family. - Alyce Ketcher

HOST DETAILS

Matthew Weldon took over Courtville in 2018 and continues today the rich legacy left behind by Kitten and Grainne. The Weldon family tree boasts a rich history of Irish jewellers going back over 135 years. Learning from a young age about the industry from his father, Matthew quickly gained a skilled eye and an appreciation for quality.

Seeking to further his knowledge and expertise Matthew gained a degree in marketing and French which led to a short career as a chartered accountant. But with such a draw to antique and vintage jewellery it was inevitable that Matthew would continue the family tradition and build a business of his own. Like generations before, Matthew looks for the exceptional, rare and intriguing pieces and always ensures beauty, quality and fair prices.

Alyce Ketcher has been working with jewels for over 15 years. During her time within the jewellery industry she has worked in Australia, New Zealand, United States, United Kingdom and Ireland and gained qualifications through the Gemological Institute of America (GIA) and the Gemmological Association of Great Britain (GEM-A). As a qualified gemologist Alyce is able to use her extensive knowledge of diamonds and gemstones to identify and value jewellery from all periods. Working with antique and vintage jewels is her passion, and you can often find her researching hallmarks, inspecting gemstones or writing about our latest find.

KEYWORDS

#royaljewels #royalfamily #queen #denmark #crown #diamonds #crownjewels #jewellery