There are many spectacular Royal and Noble Jewels on Auction in this month, and there are five Tiaras on Auction at the Bonham’s London Jewels in London today!
Bonham’s London Jewels | 13 June 2024
Diamond Fringe Tiara/Necklace
Estimate: £30,000 – £50,000
A Diamond Fringe Tiara/Necklace, of ‘Russian fringe’ design, the articulated row of old cushion-shaped diamonds within box-collet settings, suspending a fringe of forty-eight graduating ‘spikes’ of similarly-cut diamonds in cut-down collet settings, to a similarly-set quatrefoil clasp, converting to a circlet or necklace,
“Russian fringe” alludes to a style of tiara based on the kokoshnik; a traditional Russian headdress in a halo style that is worn high and wide on the head. These kokoshnik-style tiaras were highly fashionable throughout western Europe in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, largely thanks to Queen Alexandra, Queen Mary’s mother-in-law, who received one (also from Garrard) as a silver wedding anniversary gift in 1888. Invited to design the gift herself, she chose to imitate the kokoshnik style worn by her sister, Empress Maria Feodorovna of Russia. Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother, who was gifted the tiara by Queen Mary in 1937, lent it to her daughter, Queen Elizabeth II (then Princess Elizabeth) when she married Prince Philip in 1947.
Diamond and Pearl Tiara/Necklace
Estimate: £12,000 – £18,000
Isabel Louisa Ogilvy (1864-1963), and thence by descent.
A Diamond and Pearl Tiara/Necklace, circa 1890, the graduating foliate knifewire sprays set throughout with old brilliant, single and rose-cut diamonds, accented with bouton pearls, mounted in silver and gold, detaches to be worn as a necklace frontispiece on a later snake-link chain.
Isabel Louisa Nevill (1864-1963) was the daughter of Hon. Ralph Pelham Nevill and Louisa Marianne Maclean. Isabel Louisa, pictured reading here, married Major Angus Howard Reginald Ogilvy (1860-1906) on 15th October 1890. The tiara was most likely a gift for her wedding day.
Pearl and Diamond Tiara/Necklace
Estimate: £15,000 – £20,000
A Natural Pearl and Diamond Tiara/Necklace, circa 1890, with graduating foliate volutes, set with 3.50 – 6.90mm bouton pearls, above a series of scrolling motifs, set throughout with cushion-shaped, old brilliant and rose-cut diamonds, mounted in silver and gold.
Flowerhead Diamond Brooch/Tiara
Estimate: £25,000 – £35,000
Property from a Private Collection in Switzerland
A Flowerhead Diamond Brooch/Tiara, circa 1965, eachstylised flowerhead with unfurling petals, pavé-set with brilliant-cut diamonds, accented by step-cut diamonds and a central brilliant and baguette-cut diamond cluster.
Inherited by direct descent to the present owner from Marie-Madeleine Eugenie Forbes née Maurel, Countess of Granard (formerly Princess of Faucigny Lucinge) (d. 1990). The majority of these jewels date to Marie-Madeleine’s second marriage to Arthur Forbes, 9th Earl of Granard (1915–1992).
Diamond Tiara
Estimate: £20,000 – £30,000
A Diamond Tiara of undulating form, with openwork palmette and scroll motifs accented by trios of old brilliant-cut and cushion-shaped diamonds, with a central pear-shaped diamond, terminating with a similarly-shaped diamond finial, millegrain-set throughout with brilliant and single-cut diamonds.
