M u s e u m    T o u r

The Crowns

D. Pedro II's imperial crown is, perhaps, the most rare and valuable item in all the national collections. A spended example of brazilan goldsmith work, it was made by Carlos Marin, a goldsmith with premises in the Rua Do Ouvidor, 139, Rio De Janeiro, especially for the consecration and coronation of the young emperor - he was then but 15 years old. Marin, supplier to the royal household, made countless jewels and ornaments, including the imperial globe - one of the royal symbols, and the ring used in the consecration of d. Pedro II. In order to make the various insignias for d. Pedro II various family jewels were  broken-up, as recorded in the archives of the imperial household, kept in the national archives. Diamonds taken from the crown of d. Pedro I and a string of pearls, inherited by d. Pedro II, were used in the making of the crown. Subsequent to the proclamation of the Republic, the imperial crown was kept at the national treasury. In 1943 it was transfered to the recently created, imperial museum, and has remained there ever since.