Elizabeth 1st Tiara - Darnley Portrait

This is my own hand crafted tiara, a replica version of the tiara worn by Elizabeth 1st in the portrait owned by Darnley.

I use gold bead wire, imitation pearls and swarovski crystals to create this piece. As it is hand crafted there may be slight variations in the beading.

One of the most important surviving images of Elizabeth I, this portrait was almost certainly painted from life, and the resulting pattern for the queen's face was to be repeated for the remainder of her reign. It is known as the 'Darnley portrait' after a previous owner. It shows Elizabeth looking cold, haughty and imperious, wearing a rather masculine doublet with a lace ruff collar, a double string of pearls looped around her neck and carrying an ostrich-feather fan.