A Typographic Crown of Romance
Tiara For Maxima
Client
Het Kruithuis (now part of Het Noordbrabants Museum in 's-Hertogenbosch)
Design
Frank Tjepkema, Tjep.
Production
Tjep.
Year
2002
A Font-Forged Tribute to Royal Union
In the lead-up to the 2002 royal wedding of Crown Prince Willem-Alexander and Máxima Zorreguieta, Tjep. entered a national design competition to create a tiara fit for the future queen—a whimsical, typographic masterpiece that celebrates love through the language of letters. Unveiled at Het Kruithuis (now part of Het Noordbrabants Museum in 's-Hertogenbosch), this honorable mention-winning entry transformed words into wearable poetry, blending Dutch design ingenuity with romantic symbolism.
Over 100 Fonts Spelling Eternal Vows
Frank Tjepkema's Font Tiara reimagines the traditional crown as a cascade of typography: over 100 distinct punched fonts spell out "Willem-Alexander" and "Máxima" across silvered brass bands, dotted with sparkling Swarovski crystals for a subtle shimmer. This intricate lattice evokes the chaos and harmony of handwritten love notes, turning the couple's names into a delicate, interlocking script that crowns the head like a whispered promise.
From Competition to Cultural Gem
Commissioned as part of a showcase of 21 visionary tiaras by Dutch designers, the piece was exhibited at Het Kruithuis in Den Bosch—a hub for contemporary jewelry and art—highlighting the intersection of craft and narrative. Tjep.'s entry stood out for its playful nod to graphic design, earning an honorable mention in 2003 and joining the museum's legacy of innovative objects that bridge everyday language with regal elegance.
Tjep.'s Whimsical Wordplay in Heirlooms
More than a headpiece, the Tiara for Maxima embodies Tjep.'s signature fusion of irony and intimacy, akin to the layered motifs of Clockwork Love and the transformative forms of Chrysalide. It asks: what if vows were etched in endless typefaces, eternal and endlessly readable?
Crowning Stories, One Letter at a Time
Elegant yet eccentric, it proves words can wear like jewels. Explore more of Tjep.'s narrative treasures on Tjep.com, where design spells the extraordinary.