PLESS, PRINCESS HENRY OF
Neg. No: GP (L) 1595A
Neg. Size: 12"x15"
Neg. Date: 29-12-1897

Sitter: H.S.H. ("Daisy") Princess Henry of Pless, née Mary Theresa Olivia Cornwallis-West (1873-1943).

Sketch published in The Queen, 10 July 1897

Daisy of Pless, centre

Exhibition of Daisy of Pless and her Circle

at Castle Pless, Poland, from 12 May 2006

Biog: Society beauty; eldest dau of Col. Frederick Richard Cornwallis-West of Ruthin Castle, Denbighshire; m (1891) Hans Heinrich, 15th Prince and 3rd Duke of Pless (div 1922).

Role: Queen of Sheba/Cleopatra.

Date: 29 December 1897.

Occasion: The Devonshire House Ball, 2 July 1897.

Location: The Lafayette Studio, 179 New Bond Street, London, W.

Descr: FL seated.

Costume: "...dress...of purple and gold shot gauze. The bodice, the skirt nearly to the waist, and the train was one mass of jewels, thickly encrusting medallions of raised gold. Turquoise, bearing hieroglyphics, bore a prominent part in the design, which included yellow, red, purple, green, blue, and white stones. There was a sash of cloth of gold also jewelled superbly, and the Assyrian badge worn in front of the bodice at the waistline. An Assyrian headdress, with jewels over either ear, and a high jewelled stiff feather and chains of diamonds and turquoise worn slung on either arm from shoulder to wrist, completed a costume of the utmost magnificence." (The Daily Telegraph, 3 July 1897, p 10a).

Costume Supplier: Mrs. Mason, 4 New Burlington Street, London W., or Mrs. Harrison, 5 Crawford Street, London, W.

Furniture & Props: Painted backdrop; peacock feather fan with price tag or inventory tag on stem.

Evidence of photographer at work: -

No of poses: 4 [see also neg nos 1597A, 1598 and 1598B].

Copyright: V&A

Biog: Alamanc de Gotha; Burke's Landed Gentry; Burke's Peerage (see De La Warr); Marquis of Ruvigny, The Titled Nobility of Europe, London, 1914; Who's Who; The Times, 13 July 1943, p 6e. (See also Daisy, Princess of Pless, Daisy Princess of Pless, by Herself, London, 1928; More About Myself and Friends, London, 1930 CK; From My Private Diary, London, 1931; What I Left Unsaid, London, 1936.)

Role: (Queen of Sheba) All known press sources (Cleopatra) Devonshire House Fancy Dress Ball, July 2 1897: A Collection of Portraits in Costume of Some of the Guests, privately printed, 1899, p 85 (National Portrait Gallery Archives).

Occasion: Sophia Murphy, The Duchess of Devonshire's Ball, London, 1984.

Costume: The Boston Post, 3 July 1897, p 1b; The Chicago Tribune, 3 July 1897, p 3a; The Daily Chronicle, 3 July 1897, p 8a; The Daily News, 3 July 1897, p 5g; The Daily Telegraph, 3 July 1897, p 10a; The Irish Times, 3 July 1897, p 8c; Madame, 3 July 1897, p 69a; The Morning Post, 3 July 1897, p 7g; Pall Mall Gazette, 3 July 1897, p 7b; St. James's Gazette, 3 July 1897, p 8b; The Standard, 3 July 1897, p 4b; The Times, 3 July 1897, p 12b; The Westminster Gazette, 3 July 1897, p 5b; The Lady, 8 July 1897, p 46a [& line drawing]; Truth, 8 July 1897, p 108a; Vanity Fair, 8 July 1897, p 26b; Black and White, 10 July 1897, p 56a; The Court Circular, 10 July 1897, p 624a; The Court Journal, 10 July 1897, p 1247a; The Gentlewoman, 10 July 1897, p 48b; The Graphic 10 July 1897, p 78c; Lady's Pictorial, 10 July 1897, p 53a [& p 42 line drawing]; The Queen, 10 July 1897, p 74 [& line drawing].

Costume Supplier: (Mrs. Mason) The Daily Chronicle, 3 July 1897, p 8a; Vanity Fair, 8 July 1897, p 18b; The Queen, 10 July 1897, p 74); (Mrs. Harrison) Truth, 8 July 1897, p 108a.

Reproduced: (Version from December sitting) Devonshire House Fancy Dress Ball, July 2 1897: A Collection of Portraits in Costume of Some of the Guests, privately printed, 1899, p 85 (National Portrait Gallery Archives). (Lafayette photograph taken on the night of the Ball) Black and White, 10 July 1897, p 39; The Graphic 10 July 1897, p 78; The Sketch, 14 July 1897, p 488.