Tiaras. (Report from Europe).(Victoria and Albert Museum, London, England)(Brief Article)

The tiara, now so beloved of brides, originated thousands of years ago. The name is derived from an ancient Persian word, and the original was a purple and white cloth to bind the head of a king. The idea was taken up by Alexander the Great, who made it a mark of his royal stature.

There are three types of dams. The first is the triangular diadem reputed to have been invented by the Greek god Dionysus and always associated with high rank. The second is the wreath made of flowers and leaves, and the third is the kokoshnik based on a traditional Russian headdress and worn high on the head.

In early Christian times tiaras fell from fashion because devout women wanted to be seen to be shedding pagan customs. The neoclassical revival of the 1770s brought the return of the tiara, which has been in constant use ever since, particularly among brides. In 1804, when Napoleon wanted to style himself as a Roman emperor, he chose a golden wreath to make his point. The advent of the various ...