The ‘Marie Antoinette Style’ exhibition will open on 20 September and include more than 250 pieces, including some that have never been displayed outside of France.
Marie Antoinette (1755-1793) was the last Queen of France before the French Revolution, and is well-known for tales of extravagance, controversy, and an early demise.
Among the interesting pieces in the collection is a brooch featuring double ribbons studded with diamonds, suspended from a pearl, which was sold at auction in 2018.
The Sutherland Necklace will also appear, which is believed to contain stones from the Boehmer and Bassenge diamond necklace. Exhibition curator Sarah Grant stated that Antoinette’s distinctive style had a profoundly influential impact on fashion trends.
“The most fashionable, scrutinised and controversial queen in history, Marie Antoinette’s name summons both visions of excess and objects and interiors of great beauty,” she explained.
“This exhibition explores that style and the figure at its centre, using a range of exquisite objects belonging to Marie Antoinette, alongside the most beautiful fine and decorative objects that her legacy has inspired.”
A pink diamond, believed to have been owned by Antoinette, recently commanded a substantial return at auction in June.
Marie Antoinette Style will run at the Victoria and Albert Museum until 22 March 2026.
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