Royal and Noble Jewels – The Legacy Continues
Sotheby's has for centuries been a trusted custodian of rare and beautiful items that are steeped in history, tradition, glamour, and style. From luxury cars, extraordinary works of art, and arguably, the jewel in the crown: the best gemstones and jewels that have ever been created.
Items laden with history have found themselves at some point of their journey being auctioned off over the block at Sotheby’s and most of Europe’s finest houses have relics that have come through Sotheby’s iconic doors. From intricate 19th-century micro and mosaic work to Renaissance tapestries and dazzling jewels with noble and royal provenance, these precious pieces have traversed the world over before arriving inside Sotheby’s auction house where the hammer fell once again and joined them with new discerning collectors.
Royal & Noble Jewels Exhibition Tour
This October, Sotheby’s Royal & Noble Jewels Highlights tour is travelling the world over and will dazzle Middle Eastern audiences with pieces of royal and noble provenance. Before reaching Dubai’s sandy shores the exhibition will have been showcased across some of the most luxurious cities on earth including Hong Kong and New York, the tour will finish in Geneva ahead of the Sotheby’s auction on 11th November. These precious jewels are all laden with history having previously been housed in aristocratic houses. The event continues to reinforce Sotheby's legacy of offering highly important Royal collections as illustrated by the Bourbon-Parma sales in November 2018, where Marie-Antoinette’s jewels yielded £40,421,770. One piece alone – a special pearl owned by the Queen – broke the world record with a natural pearl sold at auction for £27,654,085.
History recalls that when Queen Marie Antoinette knew her capture was imminent she sent her precious jewels in a trunk to Brussels. From there, the jewels made their way to Vienna, where the Austrian emperor, Marie Antoinette’s nephew, safeguarded them. In 1795, he returned the collection to the queen’s daughter, Madame Royale. The pieces later became part of the Bourbon Parma family’s collection, which eventually brought them to auction at Sotheby’s.
The upcoming auction in Geneva is predicted to replicate the tremendous figures previously attained by Sotheby’s; the piece de resistance which people are expected to come from far and wide to see is an 18th-century jewel formerly in the collection of the Marquess of Anglesey.
Rounding off the auction is an extensive selection of jewellery from a noble collection that brings together a dazzling ensemble of pieces from the 19th century onwards.
Rare and Highly Important 18th-Century Jewel takes centre stage at Sotheby's Royal & Noble Jewels Live Auction in Geneva.
A piece as rare as a sparkling diamond itself is a flawless late 18th-century piece that weighs approximately 300 carats and is making its first public appearance in fifty years. Formerly part of the Collection of the Marquess of Anglesey, the necklace is expected to fetch an estimated £1,977,000.
The precise origins of the piece remain a mystery, adding to the enduring allure although it is believed to have been crafted just before the French Revolution. In 1937, Marjorie Paget, Marchioness of Anglesey, wore the piece to the coronation of King George VI, a moment immortalised in a portrait by famous photographer Cecil Beaton. Sixteen years later, in 1953, her daughter-in-law donned the same heirloom jewels for the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II. A diamond this rare deserves to have a life drenched in adventures and outings as rare and exquisite as the precious gem itself. The necklace features a pair of old cushion-shaped diamond tassels, connected by three rows of collet-set old cushion-shaped and circular-cut diamonds, with a total length of approximately 670mm. This rare and historic piece will be on display in major cities, as part of the global tour and ahead of the Royal and Noble Jewels live auction at Sotheby’s Geneva on 11 November.
Previously Exhibited
This remarkable piece was on display in 1959 as part of The Ageless Diamond Loan exhibition, alongside some of the most renowned royal and aristocratic diamond pieces, including the celebrated Williamson Pink Diamond and the brooch adorned with the Cullinan III and IV diamonds from the collection of Queen Elizabeth II. It was once more displayed in 1979 at the American Museum of Natural History’s Bicentennial Exhibition. At the time, stories circulated which claimed that the piece had been crafted in 1776 by Collingwood Jeweller and that it was a gift from George III to the Duchess of Marlborough; while the exact origins may be disputed, its staggering beauty is not.
Final Note
These impeccable pieces aren’t just a testament to the wondrous diamonds nature provides. They are a symbol of a bygone era when grandeur and elegance reigned supreme. They aren’t just a beautiful accessory, but a tangible piece of history. The prices these pieces will reach at auction will attract the world’s attention and it is easy to see why. For hundreds of years, Sotheby’s has had the honour of selling some of the most storied and exquisite jewels. Taking part in the upcoming exhibition will place you at the centre of the unique stories behind these rare jewel pieces and their creation.
