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    Re: November Jewel Auctions - Habsburg Sapphires Archived Message

    Posted by malluu on October 27, 2016, 10:18 am, in reply to "Re: November Jewel Auctions - Habsburg Sapphires"

    The sapphires above were auctioned at Sotheby's in 2012 along with the necklace and another brooch from the parure.

    Sotheby's - Lot 537
    Sapphire and diamond tiara, late 19th century
    sold for $44,923
    "Designed as a series of pinnacles each surmounted by a pear-shaped sapphire, the base of scroll design interspersed with oval sapphire and diamond clusters, set throughout with cushion-shaped, circular- and single-cut diamonds, inner circumference approximately 220mm, top tier detachable."


    Sotheby's - Lot 574
    Sapphire and diamond bracelet, late 19th century
    sold for $44,923
    "The articulated bracelet composed of eight oval to rectangular modified sapphires framed by fleur de lys motifs set with cushion-shaped, circular-, single-cut and rose diamonds, length approximately 184mm."


    Sotheby's - Lot 575
    Pair of sapphire and diamond brooches, late 19th century
    sold for $97,773
    "Each designed as a fleur de lys set with cushion-shaped, circular-, single-cut and rose diamonds, set at the centre with a modified octagonal-shaped sapphire, detachable brooch fitting later added."


    Sotheby's - Lot 576
    Sapphire and diamond brooch, late 19th century
    sold for $78,747
    "Designed as a fleur de lys decorated with cushion-shaped, circular-, single-cut and rose diamonds, set at the centre with a cushion-shaped sapphire, detachable brooch fitting later added."


    Sotheby's - Lot 577
    Sapphire and diamond necklace, late 19th century
    sold for $243,639
    "Of bow and foliate swag design, millegrain-set with variously cut sapphires and circular-, single-, cushion-shaped and rose diamonds, length approximate 340mm, detachable into six pieces."


    From Sotheby's
    Provenance
    August von Finck (1898-1980), thence by descent.

    These three brooches (along with lot 576) were once thought to have belonged to the collection of Marie Louise of Austria, Duchess of Parma, second wife of Emperor Napoleon I. Today, however, they are believed to originate from a later period and are thus more likely to have belonged to Empress Maria Luisa of Bourbon-Parma (1870 - 1899), wife of Ferdinand I of Bulgaria (1861 - 1948). Member of the House of Bourbon, the fleur de lys figured prominently on her family coat of arms. This symbol can also be seen on the tiara created for her by the Viennese jeweller Köchert, on the occasion of her marriage in 1893.
    Among the many sumptuous parures described in Empress Marie-Louise's will, is an impressive sapphire and diamond set which is cited as having been bequeathed to the Archduke Rainer (1783-1853), viceroy of Lombardy, whose wife was Princess Elisabeth of Savoy-Carignan (1800-1856). When he died, the set was given to his son also name Rainer (1827-1913) whose wife, Archduchess Marie-Caroline, was a first cousin to Empress Marie-Louise. The couple was childless and offered the jewels to their nephew Archduke Leopold-Salvator, son of Archduchess Marie-Caroline's sister, at the time of his wedding with Princess Blanca de Borbón in 1889. She was the daughter of the Duke of Madrid who was a pretendant to the Spanish throne. It is very likely that at this time, the set was remodelled to reinforce the symbolism associated with the 'Fleurs de lys', relating to the Spanish cause.

    This information was kindly supplied by jewellery historian and author Christophe Vachaudez."

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