162

Gold, Silver, Ruby, Diamond, and Natural Pearl Brooch
French, ca. 1850; featuring a round domed top set throughout with circle-cut rubies and old mine-cut diamonds, suspending decorative drops featuring additional circle-cut rubies, and pear- and old mine-cut diamonds; further suspending three pear-shape natural pearl drops, the largest measuring approx. 17.00 x 11.95 x 11.44 mm.; diamonds approx. 11.85 tcw.; 20.74 dwts.; lg. 4 1/8 in.; in a purple velvet fitted case by Harry Emanuel, London

Provenance: This brooch, as recorded in Christie's Important Jewels auction catalogue dated June 7, 1983, is first noted in the collection of Eugénie de Montijo (1826-1920), wife of Napoleon III and the last Empress Consort of the French court, reining from 1853 to 1871. With the outbreak of the Franco-Prussian War and the resulting fall of the Second Empire, Napoleon III's court fled to England. Eugénie had an extensive jewelry collection, inspired by the elegance, style, and design of the neoclassical era, much of which she sold upon arriving in London. This brooch was purchased by Harry Emanuel, a London jeweler, who housed in it a purple velvet case in which the brooch still sits today. Mrs. Ernest Raphael (née Flora Cecilia Sassoon) subsequently acquired the brooch, and John Singer Sargent painted a portrait of Mrs. Raphael wearing the brooch in 1905. Both the brooch and the painting remained in the Raphael family until 1983, at which point they were offered for sale at Christie's. The brooch was purchased by a private South Carolina collector, whose family offers it for sale today.

Other Notes: Accompanied by GIA report no. 2185661971 dated August 22, 2017 stating that the largest pearl drop is natural, saltwater, Pinctada species with no indications of treatment.


  • Condition: other two pearls measuring approx. 14.90 x 9.95 x 9.55 mm. and 15.20 x 9.72 x 9.80 mm.


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November 5, 2017 12:00 PM EST
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Bid Increments
From: To: Increments:
$0 $499 $25
$500 $999 $50
$1,000 $1,999 $100
$2,000 $4,999 $250
$5,000 $9,999 $500
$10,000 $19,999 $1,000
$20,000 $49,999 $2,500
$50,000 $99,999 $5,000
$100,000 + $10,000