The Hofburg Treasury

/ journeywithphyllisandjay

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This is the Hofburg Palace, or rather a part of the Hofburg Palace Complex. It was built in the 13th century and was the imperial palace of the Habsburg dynasty until 1918.

Here is another view. But it’s still not the whole thing.

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We visited the Hofburg Treasury, a collection of “treasures” that fills 21 rooms. Everything you would imagine – and some things you wouldn’t – is here in great quantity. Here is the cradle given to Napoleon and  Marie Louise of Austria by the city of Paris in 1811 for their son. The angel is placing a crown of laurel leaves, symbolizing (what was supposed to have been) his future ascension to the throne.

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The Habsburgs really, really liked pretty things.

IMG_3334492 carat aquamarine

IMG_3342The largest cut emerald in the world, 2638 carats

IMG_3335 Very large opal

And two of what they considered their greatest treasures: a bowl brought from Constantinople in 1204 and believed by many to be the Holy Grail.

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and a Unicorn horn.

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The horn is the tusk of a narwhal, okay, but at the time the idea that it was from a unicorn gave it a special significance, and part of it was used to make the royal scepter. And the bowl, apart from being the largest agate bowl in the world, has veining which in a certain light spells XCRISTO.

Think what you will.

And what would a dynasty be without a crown. Here is the Habsburg’s, designed by Rudolph the II and heavily laden with allegorical and mystical significance. Also, a lot of diamonds, rubies, sapphires and pearls.

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6 thoughts on “The Hofburg Treasury”

  1. Love LOVE LOVE the rocks and stones!!!! Could you please bring me the opal home? I promise I’ll take REALLLLLY good care of it. Notice, I didn’t ask for the Emerald. Just the “understated” opal please. WOWOWOWOWOWWOWOW!!!!!!!!!!!

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      • Okay so I have a suggestion. I would like you to continue to write your blog when you get home. I LOVE reading about what you are doing and it makes me feel warm and fuzzy inside, like we are even more connected. So you can tell about throwing in a load of wash, shoveling the driveway, planting flowers, feeding the birds or what you are reading, watching, chatting about. I won’t be an eavesdropper or voyeur, just a friend interested in your days!! Whatcha think about that??????

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