Elegant Paris armorial plate, bearing the arms of MARY SCOTT TOWNSEND ( died 1932) daughter of Railroad and Coal Magnate ”William L. Scott. She married Richard Townsend in 1899. The Tribune  reported she was worth "so many millions". An important tiara was made for her by Cartier in 1905. A witch had told her that she would die if she slept under a new roof so a mansion was sought and duly extended but without altering the said roof. It was designed in the style of the 'Petit Trianon' in France. She lived at 2121 Massachusetts Avenue. Washington D.C. 'Townshead House'. Sumner Benjamin Welles (1892-1961) married her daughter Mathilde Scott Townsend. He was under Secretary of State, and as such the house received many important visitors, including President Roosevelt. 
 
  The Towsend Tiara was purchased back by Cartier and is now in the Cartier Collection. 
Illustration:  Townsend Mansion dining room.
 
Photos:
http://berd.artinterp.org/omeka/files/original/317718b40dfde4427a2b550cfd189990.jpg
https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0/
Library of Congress.