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England's Crown Jewels

Imagine traveling all over the world with replicas of the most famous jewelry in history. Imagine dressing up as a London Bobby, a Town Crier or a Tower of London beefeater. Imagine being hailed by Presidents, Royalty and even school children. Sounds like a great story--but it's true and it's the life lived by Clive Deverath.

Clive Deverath spent forty years showcasing Britain to the world, focusing on North America. He is a wonderfully articulate raconteur with fond memories of those whose paths he crossed as he invited the world to tour Britain.

Jewelry is wearable art--and as such, International Art Treasures explores the incredible history of jewelry and its design. Where better to start than with the most famous pieces of wearable art in the world?

"I know I've been across Canada about 6 times, I've been all around the United States 10 times and I've been to Honolulu. I've been to Rio de Janeiro,  Bermuda, and many other  places."

The Beefeaters, the famous keepers of the Tower of London, are former Army officers. "In order to be a Yeoman Warder, you have to be a retired regimental Sergeant Major because that gives you the voice of authority, which is necessary when you are taking tourists around the Tower and also ... that they will listen to your words and be impressed with the great stories of the history of the Crown Jewels of England and all of the things that are associated with them."

Mr. Deverath explains some of the costumes he wore and why. "The Beefeaters ... were the tasters of the King's beef and ... are the ones now who looked after the locking up of the Jewels and also making sure tourists were well received when they came to the Tower of London." Clive adds, "I also did the Town Crier because depending on the area that we were going [to], if we did the Beefeater it became sort of... well it became overdone, so ... because we were going out into the fields of America I then became a town crier."

The actual crown jewels are usually on display at the Tower of London, in England. The pieces have a varied history as Clive points out including the destruction of many of the original pieces. "Cromwell destroyed all of the regalia [but] the anointing spoon was kept in the Westminster Abbey and Cromwell didn't destroy [it]."

The Crown Jewels have been used by English monarchs from 1660 and in some cases earlier. The 'regalia' is a part of the collection which are only used during the Coronation of a new monarch.

It is believed that the first English King to arrange a regalia was Edward the Confessor. In their history, the Monarchs have been known to have pawned the Crown Jewels- such as Edward III  in his situation to finance his overseas campaigns.

During Cromwell's time the decision was made to destroy any vestige of Royalty. Cromwell had the crown jewels divided and sold in 1649. The jewels were sold separately. The metal was melted into coins. However, the anointing spoon was sold as a whole piece and thus wasn't destroyed.

Title: Anointing Spoon (Reproduction)
Image Courtesy ©: Clive R. Deverath, 2003

As much as Cromwell loathed the trappings of the monarchy, another regalia piece that he did not destroy - the Coronation Chair - was used by Oliver Cromwell in 1653 during his installation as Lord Protector.

Charles II, crowned King in 1661 after the end of Cromwell's era, had a full regalia including the spoon that was returned to him by it's purchaser.

Often the regalia was disassembled after the Coronation -  the jewels were hired solely for the Coronation and were returned - instead glass or paste was put in their place--and then they would be put on display for the public. It wasn't until the 20th century that this common practice ceased.

Cromwell wasn't the only threat to the Crown Jewel collection Clive points out. "The originals were hidden in the Tower of Windsor Castle because they were all put in hat boxes and secreted away during the last war [World War II]."

The collection, famous in its own right, holds some of the most celebrated jewels in the world. Clive was often asked to explain the history and interesting anecdotes about the collection. As he said, " I'd explain the great historic values of the Black Prince's Ruby and the Second Star of Africa."

Koh-i-Noor Diamond

The stone has an interesting history before entering into the Crown Jewel Collection. Among the owners were the Shah of Persia who received it, in 1738 after defeating the Mogul leader of India. The Shah recommended in a gesture of goodwill that the two exchange turbans and they did. The Shah, it is believed, was aware that the Mogul kept a large diamond in his turban. Upon discovering the diamond in the Mogul's turban which was now the Shah's turban, the Shah is said to have exclaimed, "Mountain of Light" or "Koh-i-Noor", giving the diamond it's name. The diamond has undergone many owners in its history until it was given to the British Royal family in 1849.

Prince Albert, husband of Queen Victoria, saw to it that the stone was recut resulting in a 43 % weight loss and the Koh-i-Noor now is 106.5 carats.

Black Prince's Ruby

In 1415, Henry V wore the Black Prince's Ruby on his helmet during his victory over the French forces at Agincourt.

Cromwell sold the Black Prince's Ruby but the owner sold it to Charles II and it has been part of the Crown Jewel collection ever since.

First Star of Africa

Second Star of Africa

Clive worked on a freelance basis for many companies, particularly British Airways. "It was a joy to work and promote tourism to Britain in a joint association with British Airways. It was BOAC in those days and when I started it was Empire BEA--British Empire Airways but they amalgamated and they were one of the people that were very interested in me taking these on show." Clive also worked with Air Canada among many others.

"I was doing all of this freelance work and all kinds of displays, and suddenly it became very interesting with the airline and promotion of tourism. I would take these on special events and for travel agencies presentations and all kinds of places where it would be good to promote tourism. It was in those days, after the war and they were looking for tourists. This was a wonderful way that they found to promote tourism, and would give me some wonderful entries into the most extraordinary places. I've been at Metropolitan Opera House in New York, I was around with Braniff Airlines." 

Clive explains, "Braniff is an airline that was introduced in the Southern states and they had this particular flight from London to Dallas, and it was to do the inaugural of this flight that they were taking from London into Dallas." he adds "We went to seventeen Texas cities. That had to be one of the most extraordinary moments of my life. ... Texas was great. "

One highlight of his world experience was in London with executives of the Holiday Inn. "I was in Memphis which is the headquarters of Holiday Inns. I was sitting at a table and word was passed around that I was bringing the Crown Jewels of England into the White House in Washington ... The man who was in charge of the Holiday Inns ... said 'oh you're going to do that? What do you know about London?' And I said: Well let me have the phone and I'll phone the House of Lords and we can arrange for Lord Ponsonby, Head of the London Tourism Board."

Clive discussed one of his fondest memories of a mischievous moment during a visit to Chicago. " I remember once I had to do this in Chicago and I was dressed as a London Bobby. ... I was given a room adjoining a suite. The first night was quite alright but the second night I thought that World War Three had happened because of the noise and I phoned down to the front desk and complained.... that I needed my sleep. They said they would phone Mr. Foxx [the guest] and ask him to cut the noise ... Knowing it was Redd Foxx, I put on my uniform of a London Bobby and went round with my lovely truncheon and slammed and banged the door. He came out and said a few very bad words [including] 'where the hell am I?' I said you were on the wrong flight you're in London and you'll be under arrest for disturbing the peace. It was quite an interesting [night]. He invited me into the party when he realized I was putting on a show for him and I've never had such a party in all my life."

Clive last saw the original Crown Jewels in London in 1983 in their former home. In 1994 Queen Elizabeth opened the Jewel House in the Water block at the Tower of London.

"But now that they've moved them ... I really would like to go and see them again and renew acquaintances. I would like very much to do that."

When asked to explain how he did what he did, Clive simply says "I was able to drive them thousands of miles around the United States and across Canada and it was a very very challenging thing, because you were the only one and if you got sick there was nobody to do it. So you looked after yourself. You didn't drink and you didn't smoke. You just looked after your health because otherwise nobody would have done the things that I did and drove and drove and drove. I don't think I could do it now."