This brooch is based on the Dorset Bow from the late Queen Elizabeth II collection. Queen Elizabeth (Elizabeth Alexandra Mary) was born on 21st April 1926 and came to the throne on 6th February 1952, reigning for 70 years until her death on 8th September 2022. Queen Elizabeth was a prolific and enthusiastic brooch wearer. I cannot remember seeing an image of her not wearing a brooch. The queen had 98 brooches and often chose one to reflect what she was doing or where she was visiting – the diamond Maple Leaf, made by Asprey & Co in 1939 when visiting Canada or the diamond Wattle, made by William Drummond & Co in 1954, designed to mimic the national flower of Australia.
The Dorset Bow was made by Carrington & Co in 1893 as a wedding present for the then Princess Victoria Mary of Teck (later Queen Mary) by the county of Dorset. In the early years of her marriage Princess Mary (Duchess of York) regularly wore the brooch. And in 1897 she wore it in combination with several other brooches at the Devonshire House Ball. It was a fancy-dress ball to celebrate the diamond jubilee of Queen Victoria. The Duke and Duchess of York (later King George V and Queen Mary) attended as The Earl of Cumberland and as a Lady of the Court of Marguerite de Valois. You can just make out the Dorset Bow at the bottom of Pricesses stomacher bodice, below four other diamond bow ornaments.
In 1947 Queen Mary gave the Dorset Bow brooch to her granddaughter Princess Elizabeth (later Queen Elizabeth II) as a wedding present. Queen Elizabeth frequently wore the Dorset Bow.
