C W Sellors recreates jewellery for Chatsworth’s largest exhibition

Derbyshire fine jeweller C W Sellors has recreated jewellery for Chatsworth’s largest exhibition to date – ‘House Style: Five Centuries of Fashion at Chatsworth’.

C W Sellors is an official sponsor of the event at the home of the Duke and Duchess of Devonshire, which aims to explore the history of fashion and adornment.

Having worked for Chatsworth for over 35 years, C W Sellors Fine Jewellery was commissioned to recreate the jewellery showpieces which will go on public display on 25 March.

The designs include a headdress worn by Louise, Duchess of Devonshire at The Devonshire House Ball, given by the 8th Duke and Duchess to celebrate Queen Victoria’s Diamond Jubilee in 1897.

Replicas of two diamond tiaras have also been produced; The Palmette and Lotus diamond tiara, worn originally by Duchess Mary to the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II; and the Honeysuckle diamond tiara which was worn by Duchess Deborah to the same coronation.

The workshop at C W Sellors, based at Ashbourne in Derbyshire, set about recreating the pieces.

Working, in some instances from just a solitary sepia photograph, the jewellery designers sketched out the initial designs, handcrafting every piece, sourcing the gemstones and pearls from around the world, cutting and setting the stones to fit into the overall designs.

Rebecca Sellors, jewellery designer at C W Sellors, said: “House Style has been a fabulous project to work on. Working closely with the project team at Chatsworth we have managed to produce some very accurate recreations of these incredible jewellery pieces.”

All the pieces have been designed and made in the UK.

C W Sellors will also launch a new collection to retail jewellers that complements the exhibition designs.