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Noble Jewels<\/span><\/b> Geneva 6th annual sale of Noble<\/span> Jewels will bring together gems of great historical significance having belonged to prestigious European families. <\/span> Prince Alexandre Murat, through his ancestry with Joachim Murat (1767 \u2013 1815) who married Caroline Bonaparte, Napoleon\u2019s sister, was associated with one of the most glorious periods of French history. The <\/span>heroic cavalry charges of Joachim Murat, an inn\u2010keeper\u2019s son from Gascony, contributed to the victories of I\u00e9na, Eylau and Austerlitz and from 1808\u20101814 he and Caroline were popular rulers of the Kingdom of Naples and Sicily. The diadem boasts one of the largest natural pearls ever recorded, at 303.37 grains. As stated by the SSEF laboratory, \u201cthe main pearl in the center is outstanding in its size and one of the most important pearls certified so far at the SSEF\u201d and \u201cnatural pearls of this size, quality and with a documented historic provenance are very rare and thus the described tiara with three large pearls represents a very exceptional treasure\u201d.<\/span> In addition to the Beau Sancy, the sale will feature several jewels with royal provenance. Among them is a necklace suspending a detachable pear\u2010shaped D colour diamond weighing 41.40 carats and coming from the collection of a member of a royal family (est. CHF 2,750,000\u20104,550,000 \/ $3,000,000\u20105,000,000, illustrated left).<\/span> Thirteen jewels from the Estate of the late Prince Kinsky will also <\/span>be presented, shedding light on the history of one of most <\/span>illustrious and oldest dynasties originating from Bohemia. Tracing <\/span>its roots back to the thirteen century, the House of Kinsky was part <\/span>of the most powerful and influential families in the region in the <\/span>18th and 19th centuries. Its members served in high diplomatic or <\/span>military positions of the Habsburg Monarchy and subsequently the <\/span>Austrian Empire. An Important natural pearl and diamond <\/span>necklace made circa 1880 evokes the splendour and lavish style of <\/span>the imperial court (est. CHF 275,000\u2013460,000 \/ $300,000\u2013500,000, <\/span>illustrated).<\/span> Enjoying a similarly illustrious provenance is a selection of jewels <\/span>coming from the collection of a member of the Princely Family of <\/span>Thurn und Taxis. <\/span>Among them is a very fine emerald and diamond <\/span>demi\u2010parure, composed of a necklace and a pair of earrings, <\/span>which <\/span>was purchased by <\/span> Typical of the early twentieth century is a fine sapphire and diamond brooch\/pendant dating from circa 1910 <\/span>which belonged to the Italian Countess Adriana Guillichini della Gherardesca (est. CHF 185,000\u2010370,000\/<\/span>$200,000\u2010400,000, illustrated below).<\/span>
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Commenting on the forthcoming sale, David Bennett, Chairman of Sotheby\u2019s Jewellery Department in Europe and the Middle East and Co\u2010Chairman of Sotheby\u2019s Switzerland said: \u201cWith fascinating Noble Jewels led by the legendary Beau Sancy diamond, several important private collections including the personal jewels of Suzanne Belperron, and many exceptional gemstones and period creations, the May auction should be a delight for all lovers of fine Jewellery\u201d.<\/i><\/span>
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The Beau Sancy<\/span><\/b>
At the heart of the sale will be The Beau Sancy, a diamond which has been the privileged witness of 400 years of European history. Passed down through the Royal Families of France, England, Prussia, and the House of Orange, the celebrated stone was worn by Marie de Medici in 1610 at her coronation as Queen Consort of Henri IV. The 34.98 carat modified pear double rose cut diamond was almost certainly discovered in the area of Golconda in India, the sole source of diamonds until the discoveries in Brazil in the 1720s (est. CHF 1,850,000\u20103,650,000\/ $2\u20104 million, illustration above).<\/span>
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Continuing Sotheby\u2019s long tradition of offering jewels with aristocratic provenance, Sotheby\u2019s <\/span><\/p>\n<\/a><\/div>\n
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Following the record for a tiara established by Sotheby\u2019s Geneva last May1, the forthcoming auction will include The Murat Tiara, an impressive pearl and diamond jewel created in 1920 by Joseph Chaumet for the marriage of Prince Alexandre Murat (1889 \u2013 1926) to Yvonne Gillois (1894 \u2013 1961) (est. CHF 1,375,000 \u2010 2,285,000\/ $1,500,000 \u2013 2,500,000, illustrated left).<\/span>
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Another piece of historical importance is to be found in a diamond brooch set with a 7.33 carat Fancy deep yellow diamond coming from the collection of Prince Filippo Corsini, a descendant of the illustrious <\/span>Florentine family whose history dates back to the 12th century and whose lineage includes many popes (est. CHF 280,000\u2010480,000\/$300,000\u2010500,000, illustrated below).<\/span>
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The central diamond was offered to the Corsini family by Charles Edward Stuart (1720 \u2013 1788) in the 1770s, most certainly in gratitude for their support during his years of exile. Most commonly known as <\/span>“Bonnie Prince Charlie”, Charles Edward Stuart was the second Jacobite pretender to the thrones of Great Britain and Ireland. His attempt to make the Stuarts regain the crown ended with the Battle of Culloden in 1745 which precipitated his exile to France and Italy. It is possible that the diamond was inherited by Prince Charles from his mother Marie\u2010Clementina Sobieski, Granddaughter of King John III of Poland and, therefore, was originally part of the Sobieski Jewellery Collection.<\/span>
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<\/span><\/p>\n<\/a>Albert, 8th Prince of Thurn und<\/span> Taxis<\/span> around 1890, <\/span>most certainly as a wedding present for Austrian Archduchess <\/span>Margarete whom he married on 15 July in that year (est. CHF <\/span>200,000 \u2010 300,000\/ $220,000 \u2013 330,000).<\/span>
Another highlight from this group is an attractive sapphire and diamond bandeau dating rom early 1930, accompanied by a fitted case which was painted by Princess Margarete of Thurn <\/span>und Taxis (est. CHF 75,000\u2010130,000\/ $80,000\u2010 140,000, illustrated above left).<\/span><\/p>\n
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