Portrait Miniature: King Carol I of Romania

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Familia regala, King Carol I, Romanian Royal Family, Royal jewels

This portrait miniature by Johannes Zehngraf was auctioned at Christie’s in November 2012.

King Carol I of Romania, in black coat with gold collar and epaulettes, wearing numerous orders and medals including the chain of the Order of the House of Hohenzollern, the breast-stars of the Order of the Crown of Romania and the Star of Romania, the jewel of the Royal Prussian Order Pour le Mérite. Signed ‘Zehngraf’ (lower left), on ivory oval, 2¼ in. (58 mm.) high, rectangular gold-bordered nephrite easel-stand frame set with enamel flowerheads. It was estimated between 2,000 – 3,000 GBP and sold for 11,875 GBP ($19,000).

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Sotheby’s: Royal jewellery auction – Beau Sancy Diamond & Murat Tiara

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Royal jewels

The Noble Jewels session on the 15th May is led by the sensational Beau Sancy diamond, a stone of supreme historical importance with an impeccable royal provenance stretching back to Marie de Medici; also featured is the Murat tiara commissioned by Prince Alexandre Murat in 1920 from Chaumet and set with one of the largest natural pearls ever recorded. Enjoying similarly illustrious provenance is a selection of jewels from the collection of a member of the Princely Family of Thurn und Taxis, the collection of the late Prince Kinsky, and the collection of Prince Filippo Corsini to name but a few.

An extremely rare, aristocratic Beau Sancy diamond, which has passed through the royal families of France, England, Prussia and the Netherlands’ House of Orange, is to go up for auction at Sotheby’s.

The stone, a 35-carat modified ‘pear double rose cut’ diamond belonging to Georg Friedrich, Prince of Prussia and the present Head of the House of Hohenzollern, is expected to fetch between £1.24m and £2.47m (2m-4m USD).

The diamond originated from the mines in India near Golconda and was acquired by Nicolas de Harlay, Lord of Sancy, in Constantinople in the 1500s, explaining its name. In 1604 it was bought for 75,000 livres by French king Henry IV as a gift for his wife, Marie de Medici. According to Sotheby’s, the queen had long coveted the stone, especially after learning that de Harlay had sold a larger diamond called the Sancy and now part of the Louvre Collection to King James I of England.

Sold: 9,042,500 CHF

The Murat Tiara

The Murat Tiara will be auctioned also by Sotheby’s. Est. CHF 1,375,000 – 2,285,000/ $1,500,000 – 2,500,000. Photo: Sotheby’s – an impressive pearl and diamond diadem created in 1920 by Joseph Chaumet for the marriage of Prince Alexandre Murat to Yvonne Gillois. The tiara boasts one of the largest natural pearls ever recorded, at 303.37 grains, with the SSEF laboratory stating “natural 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”.

Sold: 3,610,500 CHF

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Elena Lupescu’s long lost earrings

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Elena Lupescu, King Carol II, Royal jewels

Credit: Woolley and Wallis

The pearl and diamond earrings had been left in a drawer for 35 years before they were sold to an anonymous phone bidder by Woolley & Wallis on 26 April 2012. The owner had not worn the earrings and had no idea of their value until February. The jewels were a gift from King Carol II to Elena Lupescu.

Description: A pair of early 20th Century natural pearl and diamond drop earrings, the drop shaped pearls suspend from an articulated line of graduated circular cut diamonds with further diamonds set to the caps. Screw fittings. With report number 62440 and dated 1st March 2012 from SSEF (Swiss Gemmological Institute) stating that both pearls are natural saltwater and weigh 34.508cts (138.03 grains) and 33.235cts (132.94 grains). They were estimated between £80,000-120,000 and sold for  £1,400,000 [hammer price] on 26 April 2012.

Jonathan Edwards of Woolley & Wallis said: “We believe they were acquired on one of the famous European tours with King Carol. The vendors brought them to us for valuation out of curiosity and were astonished to discover their value. We are absolutely thrilled with the result and delighted for the family.”

The Crown Jewels: Symbols of the British monarchy

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British Monarchy, Crown Jewels, Diamond Jubilee

On 29 March 2012, a new display of the crown jewels will be revealed at the Tower of London to celebrate the Diamond Jubilee of Her Majesty the Queen. This year’s display will feature new lighting and film footage to showcase the Crown Jewels in their full glory.

Rosenborg Castle, special exhibition: Pearls

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Royal jewels

PEARLS. Royal splendour – Modern design. Special exhibition. 11 Feb. 2012 – 28 May, 2012

Protected: A splendid selection of Romanian Royal Jewels

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Cotroceni Palace, Diana Mandache, Marie Alexandrovna, Queen Marie of Romania, Romanian Royal Jewels, Romanov jewels, Royal jewels

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Treasure of the Romanovs: jewellery designs

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Grand Duchess of Russia, Ksenia Aleksandrovna, Romanov jewels, Royal jewels

Two lavishly illustrated inventories of jewellery belonging to Ksenia Aleksandrovna, the Grand Duchess of Russia, are highlights of the Russian Sale, taking place on the 30 November 2011 at Bonhams, New Bond Street.

The albums served her as a personal, visual diary and are almost completely unrelated to political circumstances, which the Grand Duchess elaborated upon in correspondence and personal accounts elsewhere.  Each birthday, name day, Christmas and Easter was marked with jewelled gifts from her inner circle comprising of her tutors, close friends and family. The modest pendants and lockets of the young girl are recorded, small gifts from the courtship of Grand Duke Alexander Mikhailovich (‘Sandro’) who was later to become her husband, and the simple rings marking the birth of her seven children.  Grand Duchess Ksenia’s wedding celebrations marked one of the last times the Crown commissioned jewellery from the Treasury. The exquisite emerald, ruby and sapphire jewellery sets gifted by her parents, as well as the diamond necklaces, tiara and the pear collier-de-chien, by the jewellery house Bolin, were all recorded and annotated by Kensia in the inventories offered by Bonhams. The notes simply read “from Mama and Papa for the wedding”.

Montblanc “Collection Princesse Grace de Monaco”

H.R.H The Princess Caroline of Hanover, H.S.H Princess Charlene of Monaco (wearing bracelet and earrings from the Montblanc Haute Joaillerie Riviera Collection), H.S.H. Prince Albert II of Monaco and Lutz Bethge, CEO of Montblanc International, attend the Montblanc “Collection Princesse Grace de Monaco” World Premiere presentation under the High Patronage of H.S.H. Prince Albert II at Monte-Carlo Opera on 8 September 2011.

Forthcoming exhibition: Royal Faberge

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British Royal Family, Buckingham Palace, Faberge