The Medieval Crown of Princess Blanche of England

The Crown of Blanche of England, known as the Palatine Crown, is a survival from the fourteenth century and is one of the greatest treasures of the medieval goldsmiths' craft. Once part of the crown jewels of England, since 1402, it has been in Germany. In this video, I explore the design of the crown, where it was made and for whom, and its long history.
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[@colleenuchiyama4916]

As a goldsmith, I cannot stress enough how incredibly skilled the goldsmith(s) were who created this. The goldsmith(s) would have pounded all the wire used from ingots they themselves smelted, and they most likely used a mouthpiece to control the heat when soldering. I would love to be able to see the tools used. This is unbelievable. Just stunning.

[@gonefishing167]

How wonderful to hear from someone like yourself who can truly appreciate the workmanship in it. It truly is a beauty. Thank you sir. 🙏🙏👵🇦🇺

[@christinewells-leddon9287]

Thank you for your commentary. My profound respect, Sir.

[@dc-4ever201]

The intricate details on it show it was truly constructed by a master of his trade over 700 years ago...wow, truly amazing.

[@marietteestabrook4098]

And to think it could be dismantled into sections! Amazing!

[@sweptashore]

So true. As a "hobbyist" jewelry maker, I am floored at the amount of labor and skill required just to create workable gold, let alone manipulate it so delicately. Magical!

[@jasperhorace7147]

That crown is truly exquisite. So pleased it survived wars, revolutions, bankruptcy and family squabbles.

[@debbylou5729]

The family squabbles being the most dangerous

[@ThomasOutt]

I am the rightful heir to this exquisite item. #Factchecked.

[@sweptashore]

Thank you, thank you, thank you! Blanche's crown may be my most favorite piece of regalia. The delicate and intricate floral design, the pearls and colors of the gems, the construction that allowed for travel without damage, the subtle elegance -- it ticks all the boxes. It always strikes me as an inspiration for Art Nouveau. How fortunate that the crown was considered a minor item and sat unnoticed across the centuries. It's a little miracle that we can look at it 650 years later.

[@think-and-check]

I have seen it several times and each and every time it did impress me deeply. I could never understand how it was even possible to consider it "a minor piece". Next to it was displayed another crown for a royal female, just different style. Of all medieval crowns I have seen the crown of Blanche is the most remarkable, the most perfect.

[@annettewillis2797]

This is such a delicate and intricate crown. It has such an exquisite beauty despite its simplicity and lesser jewels. It is wonderful that it survived. Poor Blanche though. Married at 10, delivering a baby at 14, dead at 17. She didn't get much use out of the crown! Thanks so much Allan. This was a perfect addition to your crown series!

[@robert3302]

I am amazed at the quality of the craftsmanship. We don't think of medieval artistry being this elegant and elaborate.

[@emmsue1053]

The old Cathedrals & Churches are marvels when you think they were carved all by hand. The stonemasons tools were being sharpened all the time by apprentices! Not to mention the stained glass!

[@mariabettega3513]

As a gemologist this is a wonderful example of colour and design. The composition and gems are beautiful.

[@TyrSkyFatherOfTheGods]

This object is so delicate, complex, graceful, and - well - just perfect!

[@JJMHigner]

This reminds us once again how detailed and how fascinating crestmanship was even during the middle ages. If given a chance to create human beings will do lovely things like this.

[@saradecapua3264]

This beautiful crown proves that jewelers of today have nothing on the artists of hundreds of years ago and they didn't have the access to tools of today. That crown is truly a masterpiece.

[@LadyAnna.888]

I do believe that crown is the most beautiful I've seen and I'm so glad that I know the history behind it..

[@chriscarr4984]

A crown I have admired for many years. Only by your exquisitely wonderful video have I just realised that if we had held on to it it would have been destroyed by Cromwell. Thank you for brightening up our day with another fascinating story

[@gearyb9870]

How beautiful this crown is. I'm sorry it is not still in England but am glad it survived the destruction of the English crown jewels by Oliver Cromwell by being in Munich.

[@karendooks6244]

Absolutely beautiful,made more so because the pearls aren't perfectly matched, or the sapphires perfectly colour matched. It looks light and delicate. Gorgeous

[@melaniehylok5670]

So beautiful! Attention to detail is amazing! Thank you for pointing out all of those. It’s rhetorical prettiest most feminine crown I’ve seen. Miss Blanche must have loved it. More, more, more please! 👑💎🏰

[@PaulFellows3430]

I'm so pleased to see the full-length videos back again. I had feared that the channel was going over exclusively to "shorts" which I'm not overly keen on but thankfully my fears were groundless. Welcome back to the full-length films!

[@allanbarton]

There is no danger of me abandoing long form, in fact you are likely to see much more of them than before. Yhe shorts (which I make for instagram) were just to keep things ticking over while I got over a nasty case of the flu that has knocked me for six. I much prefer to produce the long form videos, though the shorts do get extra subscribers, who then watch (I hope) the long form videos.

[@bessofhardwick9311]

@@allanbarton Shorts are a good way to get people interested. Hope you are feeling better after the flu.

[@PaulFellows3430]

@@allanbarton thank you for that and I am sorry to hear that you've been ill. I send you my best wishes and the hope that you are now fully recovered.

[@ludovica8221]

I agree with you about "shorts" Frequently I have tried to leave comments and lost the lot when a slight nudge has caused the short to scroll away, The desktop computer is not able to cope well with tech designed for mobile devices. I HATE Shorts!!

[@PaulFellows3430]

@@ludovica8221 I absolutely agree with you 100%.

[@christineg8151]

This is an absolutely gorgeous piece! I had never realized that the crowns were made to be dismantled, but it makes perfect sense. The gemstones they picked are beautiful, lovely bright colors, and the goldwork is so delicate. I love it!

[@IrishAnnie]

That takes skilled engineering!!

[@anastasia10017]

Before WW2, good jewelry was made to be dismantled and used in multiple ways. A pearl necklace with a diamond clasp could be made into a multi strand choker with the diamond clasp at the throat or a 4 strand pearl bracelet, the clasp could be used separately as a brooch used in the hair or belt or on a handbag. This is how jewelry was routinely made and all jewelry came with special tiny screwdrivers so that the owner could use the jewelry as she wished.

[@LillyVega]

3:23 looks like a very early milgrain edge. It’s usually achieved using a knurling tool along the edge of the metal. So beautiful.

[@joanbonnet8229]

Thank you for this great video! It makes me wonder about the crowns that Cromwell destroyed.

[@kitsiewr]

Zealots always seem to hate beauty and joy.

[@tonyhowe1457]

I saw this crown in person at the Age of Chivalry exhibition in London. It was mesmerisingly beautiful. Thanks for the vid and info.

[@allanbarton]

That must have been a treat! Glad you liked my video too 😊

[@lindaross783]

It should have stayed there.

[@murphychurch8251]

@lindaross783 Hm, better not go there...please consider how complicated it would be to establish where "it should be". Why shouldn't it have remained a family heirloom of the Wittelsbach dynasty as it did, as her son was one of them? And how about the place of its creation, if we knew? Then it would stay in Venice or Prague or Paris. They would have a claim just as valid as England's. Plus, there's plenty of objects in British museums that "should stay" somewhere else. So best just enjoy it when you get a chance to see it and be happy that it's not stowed away in a private collector's safe. 🙂

[@murphychurch8251]

@lindaross783 Oh, and: actually we're lucky it didn't stay in England, as it would likely not have survived the civil war, like the other crown jewels.

[@ludovica8221]

wonderful!! I was only dimly aware of Blanche, Thanks for bringing her back. Its nor hard to imagine the excitement of this little girl, dressing up for her wedding with little thought of the implications and the brevity of her future

[@anastasia10017]

young women/girls in past centuries were afraid of marriage and did not look forward to their wedding. They knew that marriage = sex. sex = pregnancy/childbirth. childbirth = death within 2-3 years.

[@ninavongunten122]

It is hard to believe that a father would allow his 10-year old female child to be married off to a much older man!

[@ludovica8221]

Our modern sensibilities would be equally bizarre to people back then. In a world without modern medicine, where few people lived to be as old as 45, where women would count themselves very lucky to still be alive at 30, everything was on fast forward, Women were effectively the property of their father until they became the property of their husband, no different really than a dog or a horse, and fathers would want their daughters, and their daughters dowries safely transferred in law to his own allies and friends, before the daughter might start getting inconvenient ideas of her own. Early betrothal among the monied/landed classes was a way to secure property ownership for the future and cement alliances, It was a business decision and although that sounds callous, securing a stable future for your daughter was wise. The father could die at any time and what fate would befall unprotected spinsters?, they would become the prey of the unscrupulous whether they were rich or poor. Rich little girls might be betrothed as soon as they could walk, and that would be the first step to "safety", if they survived to puberty they they could be married and become the responsibility of their (literally) "in-laws" although for practical reasons the consummation of those marriages were often left until the girl was over13 and more likely to bear a healthy child. It seems weird to us now, but you need to look at history through the eyes of the people of the time. Poor girls with no father no dowry or other assets and no husband had very few options and life was likely to be nasty, brutish and very short

[@anastasia10017]

girls were not excited to be married. marriage = s*x and that equals pregnancy = childbirth = un alive. once married, a woman was lucky to survive childbirth and would be lucky to survive a few years past the wedding. girls associated marriage with early deat*

[@Caterina...3]

​@@ludovica8221 Very well explained! 😊😊😊

[@janeknight3597]

Thank you so much for this. Such a beautiful object. The workmanship is amazing.

[@2charliep]

This is my idea of what a crown should look like. So so so beautiful, much prefer it to the current Crown Jewels.

[@marynoonan6111]

I agree - it’s stunning

[@davidd6171]

Thanks for this very fascinating history lesson Dr. Barton!

[@allanbarton]

My pleasure as ever David.

[@godisgracious8105]

Hello Allan! Can you please make a video on the coronation of William III and Mary II... Their respective crowns, regalia, thrones, etc. I wonder how fascinating it'd have been to crown two reigning monarchs!

[@allanbarton]

I will add it to my list, it would be fun to do.

[@godisgracious8105]

​@@allanbarton Oh thank you! Would wait for it! ☺️

[@bethhandzel]

My husband graduated in 1976 from the College of William and Mary. I would be interested in seeing their regalia as well.

[@bessofhardwick9311]

What a gorgeous and beautifully constructed object. I really enjoy your videos, Allan. Thanks for making them!

[@allanbarton]

Thank you - I hope you have enjoyed your binge watch of them!

[@troyduncan420]

What a pity we do not know the name/names of these amazing goldsmiths and artisans Thank you for this video Nella

[@vinceplatini]

Thanks for the very detailed description of the crown and for the explanations! 👍🏻👏🏻

[@christinesuccop1812]

Such a gorgeous crown. Wonderful that it has survived all this time. Thanks for another great video. Glad your feeling better 🤴👸

[@allanbarton]

Thank you very much, glad you enjoyed the video!

[@NinaHansen2008]

This is incredibly beautiful!

[@allanbarton]

It’s exquisite 😊

[@okiejammer2736]

Oh. My. This is simply exquisite. Your rich history here - and impressive research - answers many of my questions. Thank you.

[@ruadhscottygirl2480]

Such beauty. The bottom section caught my eye, as I could imagine it as a very feminine necklace.

[@gonefishing167]

Thank you. Absolutely marvellous. So beautiful. What a miracle it is that it’s survived. The workmanship is superb. 🙏🙏🙏👵🇦🇺

[@robertl6196]

Magnificent and clever item.

[@pheart2381]

Amazing that Cromwell didnt get his claws on it.

[@johnfitzpatrick6544]

It had been out of England for centuries before Cromwell time.

[@mariagibson2722]

@@johnfitzpatrick6544 Very lucky!

[@velvetindigonight]

One thing in this life I don’t need to worry about is the design of my crown…. But if I did this ‘ethereal’ piece would be it! Exquisite

[@LadyLynne]

I would have liked some form of pointer to show the area being described. Love your videos.

[@Floortile]

Wonderful - just as one has come to expect from this channel 😊. With the beauty of Blanche’s crown still shimmering before me, it may be philistine to suggest a skip forward many centuries to the little known crown of the Kingdom of Hanover. We tend to forget about Hanover, once Salic law sent it on its own way when Victoria came to the throne. There were only two more kings before Prussia gobbled it up - but their crown has a charm and simplicity which is a credit to 19th century craftsmanship. It isn’t in the league of Blanche’s crown, of course, but a charming object from a backwater of history.

[@SG-1-GRC]

Even the interior of the crown is beautiful. What exquisite workmanship. Most people will never see the interior.

[@chanvalentine8283]

That is more beautiful than any of the current ones in fashion.

[@paulahaddad5114]

This absolutely the most beautiful and amazing crown I've ever seen - not that I 've seen that many. The colors of the stones, pearls and enamel are captivating. I think the lack of larger diamonds lets the rest of the gems shine and onlookers can really get the beauty of the item. This is my favorite crown. Thanksfully it has survived all the ensueing years. Thanks for sharing it.😊

[@GhislaineBeauce]

What a beautiful crown! I would love to have seen it worn...

[@nadiabrook7871]

Wow!! What EXQUISITE craftsmanship!!❤💖💞👍👑

[@macpduff2119]

Magnificent design and craftsmanship. Much prettier than modern crowns

[@dianeknight4839]

This is one of the prettiest crowns I have ever seen. It would look gorgeous on the head of our future Queen Catherine.

[@user-eu8ub9cm5t]

That would be Abomination God Forbid

[@elizabethsands4470]

I am always in awe of your videos. … not only your voice. … but the amazing content that you put together. Thank you so very much for sharing, Allan 👑🥀👑🥀

[@troygaspard6732]

It is like a mini cathedral. It is delicate and ornate.

[@Norfolk250]

The images are 'perfect'. When I zoomed-in it lost no detail. Very crisp. Fantastic!! What a treat.

[@GBTCO2b]

The most beautiful crown in the world.

[@allanbarton]

It is, without question.

[@sjwilloughby-greene8214]

Absolutely stunning. Thank you so much for sharing. 🌿♥️❤❤🌿

[@stepps511]

Another truly engaging video and bit of royal history. Thank you, Allan. This is an exquisite object.

[@allanbarton]

Thank you - it is a very exciting and interesting object. Oh to see the treasury of Richard II!

[@stepps511]

One can only imagine!

[@voraciousreader3341]

This work of supreme artistry is so gorgeous that I have to watch in installments….it makes my heart hurt.

[@motherofcatsnz]

When I visited Europe I sent back to New Zealand over 360 postcards from places I visited. The post card featuring this crown, one of my favourite sights, is the only one not to arrive safely, showing that it was so beautiful someone just had to keep it.

[@MyGreatAuntFanny]

What a delightful and very tasteful piece. It's strangely timeless, and if you had said it was from the early 20th century, I think I would have believed you. It's very fortunate that it didn't remain here, given the vandals that we have had throughout our history.

[@melissacoelho8413]

What incredible craftsmanship. It is absolutely beautiful.

[@pkraatz36]

Beautiful work of art. Whoever created this was a master

[@cs3742]

That inventory must be fascinating reading. Thank you for all this historical detail.

[@allanbarton]

It really is. If you want to read the whole thing (it is in Norman French) it has been transcribed and is online. www.british-history.ac.uk/no-series/inventory-ric-ii-treasure

[@Navigator2166]

Simply breathtaking. Thank you for doing this video.

[@emmsue1053]

Thank you for this, Think its my favourite piece ever & I have been to the Tower of London & seen the Crown Jewels! The delicacy & workmanship here is outstanding! The wire work especially, the more you look the more stunning it is.

[@shirleynoble685]

My goodness, that is certainly eye catching. Your discussion of its history was well worth watching when it randomly popped up on my feed. Looking at such a beautiful and intricate piece of work makes one wonder at how much industrial/technological culture has lost the concept of master craftsmanship. I will be taking a look at more of your commentaries on this topic.

[@globalheart]

I've truly never seen an item, so ornate, so well conceived, so delicately wrought and assembled, that somehow escaped all gaudiness, and became such a supremely delicate beauty. Had the sapphires been darker, it would surely have lost its daintiness to a more overbearing countenance. It is simply the lovliest, surely ever! My guess is, that it was made in France during 1320-1340...only my personal guess.. Thank you for sharing such a creation, and with such patience for the various angles!

[@tashtastictash]

Thank you for the video and for sharing the additional history surrounding it.

[@verenamaharajah6082]

I never understand how they actually wore them, as no one’s head is perfectly round, so how did it stay on? However it is the most beautiful piece of work, hard to believe it’s as old as it is.

[@user-yn7rw6mi7h]

So beautiful. And an incredible piece of craftmanship. It is amazing to think it has survived so many years.

[@EarlyMusicDiva]

What an absolutely incredible crown! Thank you for the images and information! On the topic of things glamour and glitter... Might you be interested in doing a video on the wedding at Notre-Dame of Mary Queen of Scots and the future Francis II of France? I've seen a few tantalizing descriptions that sound as if it must have been spectacular. Thank you!

[@mbvoelker8448]

The delicacy of the design is totally marvelous.

[@bevinboulder5039]

What a beautiful, delicate crown! I can't help noticing the lack of diamonds. Is that because they weren't available in Europe at that time, or just because they were too valuable for a lesser crown? What a great video.

[@nikiTricoteuse]

What an amazing piece of craftsmanship and, how privileged we are, to be able to sit in our houses and, thanks to a technology that would have been unimaginable to those craftspeople, see something so beautiful that was made so many centuries ago.

[@dmr6640]

Love your crown videos. It is quite amazing the level of detail and ingenuity this crown is made with.

[@AmynAL]

This is a beautiful piece of work. Thank you for showing the crown.

[@TheJoan48]

It wouldd be wonderful to see a lovely fair haired English lady wearing the crown. What an exquisite piece. Part of Blanche liives on in her crown...

[@jcsgodmother]

So beautiful.

[@judycater2832]

A stunning artifact with a fascinating history. I’m going to watch this a number of times to absorb all the details. So glad it survived.❤❤❤

[@olwens1368]

That is a stunning piece of work. Glorious.

[@allanbarton]

It really is. Glad you liked it!

[@rhiannonpoole6019]

What a wonderful piece of design and workmanship. So delicate and pretty, any ten year old girl would be overjoyed with it! Thank you for this video, with your usual delightful commentary.

[@bunnymomjulie6719]

Absolutely gorgeous treasure! I loved seeing the similarities to the crowns depicted in the paintings.

[@carol.luna.stella]

Thank you for this video, an absolutely beautiful crown.

[@allanbarton]

My pleasure, it really is beautiful isn’t it.

[@rubyholland2165]

How wonderful. Thank you for all of this fabulous information.

[@kennethgarland4712]

Interesting that it is owned by the Wittelbachs, as the 'legitimist' Stuart line of succession also ended up with them. (I believe the succession will soon pass, if it hasn't already, into the Lichtenstein family.)

[@jkl1202]

What a beautiful crown! Really gorgeous!! I would have loved to see it worn. 🫅🏻

[@truefairytale164]

Can you please make a video on magnificent Delhi Durbar of 1911.......❤❤

[@deborahbuffamanti4847]

I love it. So refined and ethereal.

[@NancyM1115]

Absolutely gorgeous!

[@Caterina...3]

Such a beautiful crown! It lliterallly looks like it was made for a young girl with its fairy-tale essence! Thank you for reminding us of Blanche.

[@monicacall7532]

Breathtaking! Normally I am not a fan of bling, but this is so tasteful and exquisite.

[@gilly5094]

How exquisite! Thank you for posting this. I have never seen this crown before.

[@deborahwedickcooper2751]

Thank you so much for this excellent video of one of my favorite pieces! Brilliant!

[@dianespears6057]

What a lovely and interesting piece. Thank you.

[@pippaseaspirit4415]

That’s the prettiest crown I’ve ever seen 😻

[@01Lenda]

Stunning, truly! Just loved this, thank you for sharing with us! 💛🤍💙💚❤️

[@mariGentle]

What a stunning piece

[@user-eo7hg4pf8i]

Incredibly beautiful - and a miracle it has survived. Thank you for sharing.

[@coolcpa3321]

Woo hoo! My favorite. I love, love, love everything about this crown. So unique, colorful and delicate. Thank you for this presentation.

[@puppy1584]

Beautiful. Thank you.

[@Patriot1789]

My goodness, this is stunning!

[@dukeofhaas]

Dr. B.: Excellent observation and subsequent comment regarding the quality of the stones mounted in this crown. For instance, the stones identified as "ruby" appear to have the tone and saturation typically associated not with ruby but with pink sapphire, or even a completely different gemstone such as spinel. Of course, one can't make a definitive separation based only upon images captured from videotape or film. Although a quick and non-destructive test of the stones on a gemological refractometer would give definitive results, one doubts that the caretakers of such a historic and valuable object would permit such a procedure.

[@isabelled4871]

Wouldn't it be interesting to test the gems to know where they got them from, too? Where might sapphires and diamonds have come from at the time for example? I guess the conclusion would be the usual "much wider trade routes than was previously thought". I would love to know eveything about these gems!

[@dukeofhaas]

@@isabelled4871 Great questions! As an academically trained gemologist (GIA GG), I'm certain about the answer to your diamond origin question: The diamonds mounted in the crown of Princess Blanche came from India. Until the early 18th century - when diamonds were discovered in Brazil - all diamond material originated in India. Yet the origin story for the rubies and sapphires are less certain because corundum - the mineral of ruby and sapphire - was found in various geographic locations during the 15th century including Siam (modern Thailand) and the island of Madagascar, just to name a few. You may be interested to know that the use of modern equipment allows gemologists to determine country of origin for most ruby, sapphire, and diamond. The one big obstacle: getting permission for the individual stones to be removed from their jeweled setting in order to be examined with state-of-the-art equipment in a gemological laboratory, and permission for such removal is rarely given. I'm aware of a few modern instances where such examination was permitted, including the Hope Diamond displayed at the National Museum of Natural History at Washington, DC, and many principal stones from the Imperial State Crown of the United Kingdom, located within the Crown Jewels display within the Tower of London.

[@ellenmaryrousseau8565]

This is the most beautiful, stunning crown ....the colors are woundful..❤😂❤

[@ruthgoldsmith6647]

Lovely Thankyou

[@rubyjools]

Oh this is incredibly lovely, i never knew this crown existed but the fact that it has survived is miraculous. Thank you for posting. 👑💙🤍❤

[@BrendaOsif-zk4fp]

I think it’s absolutely gorgeous ❣️

[@caroleappling2007]

Absolutely stunning