Who says crowns aren't for "everyday"?

One of my great loves of late has become antique crowns and tiaras. I have begun a little collection which I will show you at a later date once I photograph them for posterity, but for now, I'd love to share some of my archived photos with you. It was hard to decide which ones to post because they are all so unique. Most of them are old religious crowns, used on statues of the Madonna, the Infant of Prague, or in religious parades and ceremonies. Some were used in theatrical productions and some, as in the case of the 5th photo down, were actual royal crowns, used by the monarchy of various countries for their special occasions. These yummy photos demonstrate what a wide variety of styles and sizes there are out there. They are pricey, running from a couple of hundred on up to a few thousand (the actual crown jewels, are, I presume, priceless, but I am speaking of the brass and glass variety), but they are so elegant that they are worth it, IMHO. For a less expensive, but certainly beautiful option, vintage rhinestone tiaras are also very collectible and very fun to look for. My new friend Alys (click on the title of this post to be transported to one of her incredible sites) graciously allowed me to post the first 3 photos here that are from her website, Paris Couture Antiques. She was just featured in the January 2009 issue of Romantic Homes Magazine and the layout is a feast for the eyes. If you haven't seen it, you need to. Everyone did an incredible job pulling this prominent article together and even if you've never been enchanted by crowns and tiaras before, I guarantee you will at least have a moment or two of awe when you see Alys's collection showcased in her beautiful home. To read more about this talented businesswoman, go check out her blog at http://www.pariscoutureantiques.blogspot.com/. But first, check out the pretty bling that follows...

Until next time...


P.S. If you've never actually done your housework in a tiara, take my advice...it makes the work much more enjoyable. And if your family gets a kick out of it, they MIGHT just offer to help so that "her majesty" doesn't have to break a sweat. Give it a try!

How beautiful is this?

Probably an antique theatrical crown, but look at the incredible detail!

Antique French religious crown.

Some of the crown jewels of Louis XV

Can't remember where I found this one, but isn't it divine???