How was the Tiara worn? Did it have a zucchetto under it? Wasn't it uncomfortable?

[PazzoGrande]

Did the Popes who wore the Tiara wear it with a zucchetto underneath as they would wear a mitre?

Also, since the base is presumably inflexible (it doesn’t bend the way a mitre does, but it just stays the same round shape because it’s metallic), wouldn’t these tiaras have been remarkably uncomfortable? European crown jewels usually have an ermine and velvet cap that they use so the metal base doesn’t directly press unto the monarch’s head, and a new cap can be custom made for each new monarch so they don’t have to worry about the crown being too big or too small. Since the tiara apparently didn’t have any padding like an ermine cap, and it looks like it would be pretty heavy, wouldn’t it have hurt to wear it?

 

[Matthew_Holford]

Did the Popes who wore the Tiara wear it with a zucchetto underneath as they would wear a mitre?

Also, since the base is presumably inflexible (it doesn’t bend the way a mitre does, but it just stays the same round shape because it’s metallic), wouldn’t these tiaras have been remarkably uncomfortable? European crown jewels usually have an ermine and velvet cap that they use so the metal base doesn’t directly press unto the monarch’s head, and a new cap can be custom made for each new monarch so they don’t have to worry about the crown being too big or too small. Since the tiara apparently didn’t have any padding like an ermine cap, and it looks like it would be pretty heavy, wouldn’t it have hurt to wear it?

I cannot quote a document chapter and verse that proves beyond all doubt that popes wore the zuchetto under the tiara. I believe, though, that they did. It seems to me that you may have assumed that there is/was only one tiara. In fact there are many. Most popes had their own made. So, at least the tiara would have been tailor made, which should have made wearing it a little more comfortable. However, I do imagine that it was uncomfortable to wear. In addition to the problems you describe it was probably heavy and the popes probably had to hold their heads in a certain position to stop it toppling off. Even though it doesn’t appear to have any external fur I would imagine it was lined. I can check up on this if you would like me to and I will post again.

 

[PazzoGrande]

Thanks for the response.

Actually yeah I was aware there were multiple ones, but the pope didn’t always wear his own and I presumed didin’t always have his own.

But speaking of them having their own tiaras made, how did they manage to have a whole tiara made between the time of their elections and coronations? I would have imagined it would take a long time to even come up with a nice design; then you have to worry about the funding for the tiara especially after the Papal States were lost and the Pope lost the money he oversaw. I know that the pope’s hometown would often make one for him, but that seems to make potentially even more delay because then the hometown would have to worry about who would be in charge. If either the local (arch)diocesse or the civil government would make the tiara, I would imagine it wouldn’t be easy or quick to find the money for it; if private individuals would organise it, there is that problem of who’d be selected to be in charge of it, and the fundraising is always going to be a hassle. Sure people would be eager to donate, but it would still take a lot of time and organising.

Seems like a big headache (both for the people who have to make the tiara and for the pope who has to wear that heavy thing )

I thought maybe the Pope would wear an old tiara for his coronation, then a new one would be made sometime down the line, just for practicality’s sake. But that doesn’t appear to be true, because Paul VI was crowned with the one Milan gave to him.