Sotheby’s Royal & Noble | 17 January 2024

Sotheby’s is auctioning the several lots from Royal and Noble Collections in their annual Royal and Noble auction tomorrow, which includes pieces from Fonmon Castle and Glemham Hall, which we are featuring today!

Amethyst and Diamond Pendant

Estimate: 1,500 – 2,000 GBP

Formerly in the collection of Princess Beatrice of the United Kingdom

An Amethyst and Diamond Pendant in the form of a cross, set with step-cut amethysts and rose-cut diamonds, to a fine link chain, which comes from the Estate of Princess Beatrice of the United Kingdom, which was bought from Collingwood Jewellers in 1946 and thence by descent.

Princess Beatrice of the United Kingdom (1857 – 1944), later Princess Henry of Battenberg was the youngest child of Queen Victoria and Prince Albert. The princess had a close relationship with her mother and was her unofficial secretary at until she died in 1901. Princess Beatrice devoted her life to editing Queen Victoria’s journals as her designated literary executor, resulting in only a third of the original contents remaining.

Princess Beatrice fell in love with Prince Henry of Battenberg, whom she then married in 1885 after a year spent convincing her mother of the match. She was a keen photographer, so much so Queen Victoria has a darkroom installed at Osborne House. She died aged 87 in 1944.

Imperial State Crown

Estimate: 3,000 – 5,000 GBP

Two pieces from the Imperial State Crown

Two pieces removed from the headband of the Imperial State Crown during alterations undertaken prior the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II among a collection relating to adjustments made to the Imperial State Crown in preparation for the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II in June 1953, and related material, comprising:

i) Two pieces removed from the headband of the Imperial State Crown during alterations undertaken prior the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II

ii) Coronation Medal, silver, with portrait of Queen Elizabeth II facing right on obverse, royal cipher with legend (“Queen Elizabeth II Crowned 2^nd June 1953”) on the reverse; dark red ribbon with two blue stripes; original red box; with accompanying letter, awarding the medal to Harold Philip Goodship

iii) Four documents relating to broadcasts relating to the remodelling of the Imperial State Crown: Handwritten note (“Points to be made”) for a broadcast interview, 1 page; carbon copy typescript by Cecil Mann, ‘Remodelling the Imperial State Crown’, 1 page, 6 January [1953]; memoranda sent by Max Robertson, Outside Broadcasts Department, outlining a planned broadcast, ‘Insignia of Royalty’, including a segment on the alterations to the Imperial State Crown, 2 pages, 8 April 1953; BBC, letter form addressed to Goodship arranging an interview on his work as crown jeweller, 15 April 1955

iv) Press cuttings relating to the alterations (3) and a related press photograph, torn

v) Magazines, brochures, programmes, calendar chiefly relating to royal events, 1950s-80s (5)

Harold Goodship was foreman diamond mounter to the Goldsmiths and Silversmiths Company, Crown Jewellers, at the time of the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II. He was responsible for the remodelling of the Imperial State Crown, the tall and heavy crown at the heart of the coronation ceremony, so that it would fit the head of Queen Elizabeth II. The Imperial State Crown had originally been created for Queen Victoria in 1838, but was remade in 1937 for the Coronation of George VI.

Minature Portrait Ivory and Diamond Bracelet

Estimate: 7,000 – 10,000 GBP

Presented by Empress Elisabeth of Austria

A minature portrait ivory and diamond bracelet, centering a miniature hand-painted portrait of Empress Elisabeth of Austria, on ivory, within a frame of circular-cut and rose-cut diamonds, By family repute this bracelet was a gift given by the Empress to a Captain on a ship she traveled on. Thence by descent.

Duchess Elisabeth in Bavaria was born in 1837 into the royal Bavarian House of Wittelsbach. She married Emperor Franz Joseph I in 1854, becoming Empress of Austria. Although she was known as a 19th century beauty, she was a talented horse rider and had particular intellectual interests such as in the German poet Heinrich Heine whose letters she collected. She was assassinated in 1898 by an Italian artist while walking along the promenade of Lake Geneva, who stabbed her using a nail file. The Order of Elisabeth was founded in her honor by her husband which existed until the collapse of the monarchy in 1918.

Emerald And Diamond Brooch/Pendant

Estimate: 3,000 – 5,000 GBP