Ahead of the Sotheby’s Magnificent Jewels and Noble Jewels sale on 16 November 2016 in Geneva, we take a look at the jewels with Royal Provenance offered for sale. Among the 345 lots are a diamonds once owned by the Romanovs, a necklace and earrings from the Italian Princes Doria Pamphilj, pearls formerly owned by Sybil, Marchioness of Cholmondeley, and a diamond tiara.
Impressive diamond parure
Estimate: $3,000,000-$5,000,000
Formerly in the collection of Empress Catherine I of Russia and Valida Sultana Emine Hanim of Egypt
Consisting of a late 19th century necklace, a pair of earrings, and a brooch made from diamonds belonging to Catherine I of Russia, second wife of Peter the Great, who gifted them to Sultan Ahmed III of Turkey, as peace offering to end the Pruth River Campaign in 1711. The diamonds were gifted by Sultan Abdül Hamid II (1842-1918) to the wife of the Khedive of Egypt, possibly on the occasion of the birth of their son and heir Abbas II Hilmi Paşa in 1874. She became Valida Sultana Emine Hanim of Egypt, as the most powerful woman of the region and a political mentor to her son Abbas until he was deposed by the British in 1914. The diamonds passed to her grandson, Prince Muhammad Abdul Moneim, who sold them at Christie’s in 1963.
Historic and magnificent diamond jewel
Estimate: $3,000,000-$5,000,000
Formerly in the collection of The Imperial Russian Family
An articulated band set with slightly graduated cushion-shaped diamonds, within a border of drop-shaped motifs similarly set; with a ribbon bow motif set with cushion-shaped diamonds in an open-work floral and foliate pattern. Pictured in Russia’s Treasure of Diamonds and Precious Stones, a catalogue of the Imperial Russian jewels after the Revolution, this jewel has links with Empress Catherine the Great of Russia and was probably made in the 18th century. It was first sold at auction at the “The Russian State Jewels” sale at Messrs Christie, Manson & Woods in 1927.
Magnificent emerald and diamond necklace | Pair of important ruby and diamond earrings
Estimate: $900,000-$1,700,000 | Estimate: $600,000-$1,000,000
From the collection of the Princes Doria Pamphilj
Pearl and diamond necklace
Estimate: $200,000-$300,000
From the collection of Sybil, Marchioness of Cholmondeley
This natural pearl and diamond necklace, composed of three rows of graduated natural pearls, is said to have been a gift to Aline de Rothschild by Edward Sassoon upon their marriage in 1887. It was inherited by their son, Sir Phillip Sassoon, in 1909, who kept them in his pocket, rubbing them occasionally ‘to keep them alive’. His sister, Sybil, Marchioness of Cholmondeley, was painted in the pearls by John Singer Sargent in 1923, and she inherited them on his death in 1939. She transformed it into two necklaces, one long single strand and the three row necklace offered in this sale, and wore the necklace on the occasion of her 90th birthday in 1984, in the presence of the Queen. The necklace was left by Sybil, Marchioness of Cholmondeley to her daughter, Lady Aline Cholmondeley, thence by descent to the present owner.
Pair of diamond earrings | Pearl and diamond pendant | Pearl, emerald and diamond brooch | Sapphire and diamond bangle
Estimate: $18,000-$25,000 | Estimate: $30,000-$51,000 | Estimate: $40,000-$60,000 | Estimate: $500,000-$800,000
Property of a European Noble Family, Formerly in the collection of Princess Marie von Hatzfeldt
A pair of diamond earrings, natural pearl and diamond pendant, pearl, emerald and diamond brooch, and a sapphire and diamond bangle that belonged to Princess Marie von Hatzfeldt (1820–1897). They were inherited by her son, Prince Hermann von Hatzfeldt (1848-1933) and his wife, Countess Nathalie von Benckendorff (1854–1931), and passed by descent to the present owner.
Emerald and diamond necklace | Pair of emerald and diamond ear clips | Emerald and diamond brooch
Estimate: $150,000-$250,000 | Estimate: $70,000-$100,000 | Estimate: $80,000-$120,000
Estimate: $130,000-$200,000
Property of a European Noble Family
An emerald and diamond necklace of foliate design set with cabochon emeralds, cushion-shaped, circular-, single-cut and rose diamonds, supporting three drop-shaped emeralds capped with rose diamonds, pair of earrings of foliate design, set with circular-cut, cushion-shaped and rose diamonds, supporting a drop-shaped emerald capped with rose diamonds, and a brooch set with a cabochon emerald within a frame of cushion-shaped and circular-cut diamonds, highlighted with fleur de lys motifs set with single-cut and rose diamonds from the collection of a European Noble Family.
Diamond Tiara
Estimate: $130,000-$200,000
Property of a British Noble Family
A diamond tiara made of four diamond jewels, late 18th century composite, comprising: three floral motifs and a chain of eighteen circular clusters, all set with cushion-shaped and circular-cut diamonds, central chain cluster adapted from a mourning ring, inscribed to the reverse “Robt Denison Esq, died 20th March, 1785, Aged 62“. From the collection of a British Noble Family.
Diamond necklace
Estimate: $100,000-$150,000
Property of a Noble Family
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