It’s that time of year again! The major European Auction Houses are having their annual autumn Royal and Noble Jewellery Sales, and we are featuring splendid Royal and Noble Jewels, which include Jewels from Empress Eugénie, King George IV, the Duchess of Brunswick, and various German, Dutch, and Indian Royal and Noble Families, on Auction at the Sotheby’s Magnificent Jewels and Noble Jewels Sale in Geneva next week!
Sotheby’s Magnificent Jewels and Noble Jewels | 9 November 2022
Diamond Bandeau
Estimate: 30,000 – 50,000 CHF
From the Collection of Sebastian Graf von Hatzfeldt-Trachenberg
A Diamond bandeau, circa 1900, of foliate openwork design, originally belonged to Nathalie von Benckendorff, Princess von Hatzfeldt (1854-1931), married to Hermann, Prince von Hatzfeldt and Duke zu Trachenberg (1848-1933) who was a distinguished politician and major-general, serving as president of the Prussian province of Silesia from 1894 to 1903. Thence by descent.
Sapphire and Diamond Earrings
Estimate: 30,000 – 50,000 CHF
Formerly in the Collection of Stéphanie de Beauharnais, Grand Duchess of Baden
A pair of sapphire and diamond earrings come from the collection of Stéphanie de Beauharnais, Grand Duchess of Baden, which were inherited by her daughter, Princess Louise, and left to her daughter, Carola Vasa, Queen of Saxony, who left the Earrings to her cousin, Princess Marie of Hohenzollern-Sigmaringen, Countess of Flanders, who in turn left them to her daughter Princess Henriette of Belgium, Duchess of Vendôme. Also in the lot is the wedding band of Princess Louise of Baden used to celebrate her marriage to Gustav, Prince of Vasa in 1830. A Sapphire Parure from Stephanie de Beauharnais, Grand Duchess of Baden was auctioned last year.
Pearl and Diamond Earrings
Estimate: 28,000 – 32,000 CHF
Formerly in the Collection of Infanta Isabel de Bourbon of Spain, Countess of Girgenti
A pair of natural pearl and diamond earrings, each surmount set with a button-shaped natural pearl, supporting a detachable pendant set with a slightly baroque drop-shaped natural pearl, capped with rose diamonds, come from the collection of Infanta Isabel of Spain, Princess of Asturias, Countess of Girgenti, who gave them to her sister-in-law, Princess Maria-Antoinetta of Bourbon-Two Sicilies, Countess of Caserta and thence by descent
Pearl and Diamond Pendants
Estimate: 20,000 – 30,000 CHF
From the Collection of Count Sebastian von Hatzfeldt-Trachenberg
A natural pearl and diamond pendant, and two diamond pendants, originally belonged to Countess Marie von Nimptsch, Princess von Hatzfeldt (1820–1897), who held vast estates in the Prussian province of Silesia, modern-day Poland. Their son Prince vHermann on Hatzfeldt inherited these three pieces. Thence by descent to Sebastian Graf von Hatzfeldt-Trachenberg.
Pearl and Diamond Devant-de-Corsage
Estimate: 20,000 – 30,000 CHF
From a European Noble Family
A natural pearl and diamond devant-de-corsage, from the 1890s, comes from the collection of the Dutch Noble Boreel Family, with several ladies serving as ladies-in-waiting to Queen Emma and Queen Wilhelmina of the Netherlands.
Köchert Diamond Devant-de-Corsage
Estimate: 30,000 – 50,000 CHF
Formerly in the Collection of Princess Victoria Louise of Prussia, Duchess of Brunswick-Lüneburg
A Köchert Diamond Devant-de-Corsage comes the Collection of Princess Victoria Louise of Prussia, Duchess of Brunswick-Lüneburg, who received the devant-de-corsage as a wedding gift from King George V and Queen Mary in 1913. The Brooch was later worn by her daughter-in-law, Princess Sophie of Greece and Hanover, the sister of the Duke of Edinburgh, before being auctioned at Jürg Stuker in Bern in November 1974.
Diamond Necklace
Estimate: 40,000 – 60,000 CHF
From a Noble Collection
A Diamond Necklace designed as a graduated line of foliate motifs, set with cushion-shaped and rose diamonds, supporting a fringe of cushion-shaped diamonds, comes from a Noble Collection.
The Royal Family Order of King George IV
Estimate: 150,000 – 250,000 CHF
Formerly in the Collection of Princess Elizabeth of the United Kingdom, Landgravine of Hesse-Homburg
The Royal Family Order of King George IV, with an enamel portrait miniature of King George IV when Prince Regent by Henry Bone, framed with single-cut diamonds, within a rose diamond wreath mounted in yellow gold. The Order was given by the King to his sister Princess Elizabeth of the United Kingdom, Landgravine of Hesse-Homburg, and was inherited by her niece, Caroline of Hesse-Homburg, Princess of Reuss-Greiz, passing to her son, Heinrich XXII, Prince of Reuss-Greiz, who left it to his daughter Emma of Reuss-Greiz, Countess of Ehrenburg, and then to her daughter, Marie-Hermine Künigl, Countess of Ehrenburg, Baroness of Sterneck. Thence it was passed down by descent to the present owner.
Emerald and Diamond Bracelet
Estimate: 60,000 – 80,000 CHF
Formerly in the Collection of the Empress Eugénie of France
A fine Emerald and Diamond Bracelet, from the 1850s, was sold by the Empress in exile to Russell Sturgis Esq. who passed it on to his daughter Lady Portsea. The bracelet has subsequently been sold at auction twice before, first in May 1940 and again in October 1998.
Bhagat Emerald, Ruby and Diamond Earrings | Bhagat Emerald and Diamond Necklace
Estimate: 50,000 – 70,000 CHF | 400,000 – 800,000 CHF
Property of a Lady of Title
A pair of Bhagat Emerald, Ruby and Diamond Earrings and nn attractive Bhagat Emerald and Diamond Necklace designed as a fringe of graduated boteh motifs, each set with a drop-shaped emerald and brilliant-cut diamonds surmounted by an emerald bead, supporting a pendant designed as a lotus, from a Lady of Title.
Schlumberger Pink Sapphire, Sapphire and Diamond Brooch
Estimate: 300,000 – 500,000 CHF
From the Collection of Baroness Fiona Thyssen-Bornemisza
A unique pink sapphire, sapphire and diamond brooch, monture Schlumberger, from the 1950s, the pink Ceylon sapphire was acquired by Baron Hans Heinrich Thyssen-Bornemisza when still married to his previous wife, Nina Dyer, but was presented to his next wife, Fiona Campbell-Walter, who was photographed in Vogue in 1962.
