Antiquary & Expert CNES

This chased silver diadem or crown features a naturalistic style typical of the Second Empire and the early Victorian/Austro-Hungarian period, depicting intertwined foliage (probably orange blossom or myrtle, traditionally associated with marriage).

The accompanying German manuscript is a family record of the crown/tiara's transmission.It is a silver wedding crown (Silberkranz), worn by the bride during the ceremony, preserved and passed down within the same family (the Klemm/Schultz/Wachter branches) for over a century. At the time, in the Germanic and Austro-Hungarian world, these handcrafted pieces were often made to order by goldsmiths or specialists in filigree/beaten silver garlands. Due to the extreme delicacy of the stems and leaves, striking a hallmark risked deforming or breaking the work. They therefore regularly escaped official inspection by the assay office, or received only a micro-hallmark (such as a small weevil, a toucan head, or an import/census mark), now hidden by patina or nestled within a leaf fold.

The handwritten inscription provides exceptional traceability for a piece dating from 1875.Its heritage and historical value: This is not simply a piece of jewelry, but an object of transmission, etched in time (and documented for 120 years). A dark, nuanced patina attests to its authenticity and age. Over-cleaning would strip it of its character and soul.

The relief of the chasing: It is the natural oxidation nestled in the hollows of the leaves, veins, and petals that creates the contrast and highlights all the work of the master goldsmith. Without this contrast, the metal risks appearing flat and "modern."