Two masterpieces!
Epitomizing
the craftsmanship of
key
periods in the history of Jewellery!
Magnificent
Jewels & Noble Jewels
On
14 May 2019, Sotheby’s Geneva
This
May 14, in Geneva, Sotheby’s will offer for sale two masterpieces epitomizing
the craftsmanship of key periods in the history of Jewellery. Following the
record-breaking sale of Royal Jewels from the Bourbon Parma Family in November
2018, both jewels have prestigious provenance: they belonged to two influential
women who in their time embodied the height of fashion and elegance.
The
first jewel is an Art Deco treasure, probably by Van Cleef & Arpels: a
stunning emerald and diamond necklace created in the 1930s for Hélène Beaumont
(1894 – 1988), an American socialite and close friend of the Duchess of
Windsor.
She
settled on the French Riviera, where she held legendary parties and galas
during the magical, hedonistic days of the 1920s and 1930s. The necklace is set
with 11 immaculate Colombian emeralds weighing a total of over 75 carats, and
is estimated at CHF 2,895,000 – 3,980,000 ($3 - 4 million).
The
second is an exquisite diamond tiara attributed to Fabergé, which was created
around 1903 for Duchess Cecilie von Mecklenburg-Schwerin (1886-1954), the last
Crown Princess of Prussia, given to her by her Russian relatives on the
occasion of her wedding to Crown Prince Wilhelm (1882-1951). The tiara will be
offered with an estimate of CHF 200,000 – 300,000 ($200,000 – 300,000).
Speaking
about the emerald and diamond necklace, Sotheby’s Worldwide Jewellery Chairman
David Bennett said, “This is Art Deco at its absolute finest, a connoisseur’s
jewel. Rare and exceptional pieces like these are the reason people collect
Jewellery.
The
first time I laid eyes on this emerald and diamond necklace was exactly 25
years ago when we sold the Hélène Beaumont collection in Geneva. I said at the
time that it was the most important row of cabochon emeralds I had seen during
my then 20-year career. Today, 25 years on, that statement still holds true.”
Daniela
Mascetti, Sotheby’s Jewellery Chairman, Europe, commented on the tiara, “As we
saw last November with Marie Antoinette’s pearl, historic jewels have the power
to transport us back to a moment in time. The tiara attributed to Fabergé is
another perfect example: its Kokoshnik design reflects Crown Princess Cecilie’s
Russian family, who gifted it to her for her wedding; from portraits we can see
that she paired the tiara with her gowns in a very fashion-forward way for the very
early 1900s.
For
so many collectors today, who seek out unique pieces with ‘soul’ - this jewel
is really a masterpiece.”
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