Princess Marina, Duchess of Kent wears the Cambridge Sapphire Tiara (Photo: Keystone/Getty Images) |
Archives for June 2016
On the Block: Grand Duchess Vladimir’s Star Sapphire Brooch
Image via Christie’s |
Christie’s New York is currently in the midst of an enormous sale from a famous jewelry collector: the late Joan Rivers. For most, her name probably evokes thoughts that are more about comedy than about fine jewelry, but Joan was a major collector of all sorts of decorative objects. Her estate boasts an important group of jewels and bejeweled objects by Faberge — including today’s brooch, which has a Russian imperial provenance.
Brooch detail (Image via Christie’s) |
Here’s how the auction notes describe the brooch (which is Lot #43 in Wednesday’s sale): “A silver topped gold-mounted star sapphire and diamond pendant brooch by Fabergé, with the workmaster’s mark of August Holmström, St. Petersburg, 1899-1903.” The notes further explain that the brooch is “set with a cabochon star sapphire within an old mine-cut diamond border, surmounted by a diamond-set ribbon crest, the reverse with suspension loop, detachable pin guard and two alternate backings, marked on reverse of mount and pin guard; in a fitted Wartski case.” The brooch is expected to fetch between $70,000 – $90,000.
Grand Duchess Vladimir (Photo: Wikimedia Commons) |
The brooch was owned by one of the grandest ladies of the Romanov dynasty: Grand Duchess Maria Pavlovna, wife of Grand Duke Vladimir Alexandrovich. Vladimir was the uncle of Tsar Nicholas II, and the Vladimirs had a sort of “rival court” of their own. You’ll probably be most familiar with one of her grandest tiaras: the Vladimir Tiara, worn today by Queen Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom. (She’s wearing that tiara in the postcard portrait above.)
Also made by August Holmström: this diamond tiara, which once belonged to Queen Marie Jose of Italy (Photo: MEHDI FEDOUACH/AFP/Getty Images) |
As an aside: if you’re a Fabergé fan, the name “Holmström” surely rings a few bells. August Holmström was a Finnish-born craftsman who was head jeweler for the firm. Even if you didn’t recognize his name, I’ll bet you are familiar with one of his major creations: the gorgeous diamond tiara he made for the Leuchtenbergs using diamonds that had been given to Empress Josephine of France by Tsar Alexander I of Russia. When August Holmström died in 1903, he was succeeded by his son, Albert Holmström. He also made a recognizable tiara: the myrtle wreath tiara owned by the Grosvenor family.
Emeralds in Amsterdam for Queen Maxima
Queen Maxima wears emeralds in Amsterdam (Photo: REMKO DE WAAL/AFP/Getty Images) |
On Saturday, Queen Maxima of the Netherlands attended a conference on transgender health care in Amsterdam. For the event, she wore glittering emeralds and diamonds with her bright green coat.
Photos: REMKO DE WAAL/AFP/Getty Images |
Here’s a closer look at the emerald and diamond earrings, which feature pear-shaped emeralds surrounded by a diamond border. You’ll note, interestingly, that the earrings are not facing the same direction; one is worn with the point facing up, the other with the point facing down. (The shape of the earrings reminds me a bit of the Duchess of Cambridge’s beautiful tanzanite pair.)
Photo: Michel Porro/Getty Images |
We’ve seen these earrings more often as pendants on a pair of diamond and emerald drop earrings. Above, Maxima wears the earrings at an official dinner for Prince Albert II of Monaco in 2014. Maxima has been wearing these since at least 2006; they are apparently a part of her personal collection.
Photo: REMKO DE WAAL/AFP/Getty Images |
And here’s a good look at the beautiful diamond and emerald butterfly brooch. This is a piece from the Dutch royal vaults; it was a gift from King Willem III to his wife, Queen Emma.
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