Forty-six diamond ornaments

Catherine the Great commissioned Leopold Pfisterer to create this extraordinary set of diamond dress ornaments in 1764. Records show that originally there were more jewels in the set, and that they included both diamond and garnet components.

For attachment to the diamond-studded ornaments, the garnets were strung on threads that passed through small holes on the back of each ornament.

 

In 1903 Michael Alexandrovich, younger brother of Tsar Nicholas II, wore the diamond ornaments at a costume ball. They can be seen here, sewn along the front edge of his short-sleeved garment, or caftan.

The jewels were sold at auction in 1927, along with other items from the Russian crown jewels. But by then the set was no longer complete. The garnets had been separated, and the diamond ornaments reduced in number to 46.