There are many spectacular Royal and Noble Jewels on Auction this autumn, with the collections of several Noble and Princely Families, Countess Marina Cicogna, and Countess Mirafiori and Fontanafredda among the spectacular Jewels on Auction at the Sotheby’s Fine Jewels Sale in Milan tomorrow!
Intaglio, Cameo and Diamond Bangle
Estimate: 15,000 – 20,000 EUR
Property of a Princely Family
An Intaglio, Cameo and Diamond Bangle, decorated with six carnelian intaglios alternated to four oval shaped cameo depicting Eros the god of Love as a young boy with an eagle, a dolphins, an horse and a torch enhanced with old mine-cut diamond.
The bangle was a gift from the Duke of Caraci to his daugther Donna Lucilla Paternò Castello dei Duchi di Caraci the day of her marriage to Don Giovanni Paternò Duca di Roccaromana, in February 1931. The intaglio and cameo were part of the Caraci family heritage before 1909 and belonged to the noble family’s landed estates in Caraci, in the Sicilian countryside. Mentioned in the family wedding present inventory, together with a necklace and an ermine fur and listed in the press article dedicated to the wedding on L’intervista published in February 1931.
Cameo and Intaglio Necklace
Estimate: 70,000 – 100,000 EUR
Property of a Princely Family
A Cameo and Intaglio Necklace designed as a row of nine oval shaped pendants each decorated with an oval shaped agate intaglio depicting ladies profile as Cleopatra alternated to ten smaller ones of rectangular shape depicting mythological scene.
The necklace was a gift from the Duke of Caraci to his daugther Donna Lucilla Paternò Castello dei Duchi di Caraci the day of her marriage to Don Giovanni Paternò Duca di Roccaromana, in February 1931. The intaglio and cameo were part of the Caraci family heritage before 1909 and belonged to the noble family’s landed estates in Caraci, in the Sicilian countryside. Thanks to the preserved family archive an image took at the end of nineeteen century in Catania testimony the integrity of the necklace back to 1890, while the press article dedicated to the wedding and published on L’intervista in February 1931 mentioned between the wedding presents this necklace, a bangle and an ermine fur as gifts to the bride from her family.
Archaeological jewelry was extremely popular in Europe in the second half of the nineteenth century, and it was actively collected at the highest levels of society. The jewelry produced by renowned firms such as for example Castellani represented one of the example of the nineteenth century’s interest in historical styles and study for the Antiques.
Castellani family was a unique team of goldsmiths, collectors and antique dealers who constituted a “dynasty” in Rome, in the 19th and 20th centuries they were able to reproduced the techniques used by the Etruscan, Roman and Byzantine for granulation and filigree to reinterpreted ancient motifs and create their unique jewels. Castellani family preserved and donated to the Italian State the jewels they created and collected during their century-long activity and these jewels are now exhibited in the National Museum of Villa Giulia in Rome, the Capitoline Museums and the Artistic-Industrial Museum of Rome and at St. Peter’s Basilica in the Vatican in the Museum of the Treasury of the Basilica.
Diamond Bracelet
Estimate: 6,000 – 10,000 EUR
Property of a Noble French Family
A Diamond Bracelet, collet-set at the center with an old mine-cut diamond to an open work design entirely decorated with foliate motifs set with cushion-, rose- and single- cut diamonds,.
Portrait Miniature Snuffbox
Estimate: 10,000 – 15,000 EUR
From the estate of a Distinguished Collector
A champlevé Enamel Portrait Miniature Snuffbox, Keibel, St Petersburg, 19th century, ecorated with the portrait of Alexander I in military dress wearing his badge of the Order of St George as well as his breast star and sash of the Order of St Andrew the First Called, the sides enameled in cobalt blue, the body chased and engraved throughout with foliate scrolls, flowers and leaf-tips.
Alexander I ( 23 December 1777 – 1 December 1825) so called “the Blessed” was Russia Emperor from 1801, ruled the country during the chaotic period of the Napoleon. His geatest triumph came in 1812 when stopped Napoleon’s invasion. As part of the winning coalition against Napoleon, he gained territory in Finland and Poland. He formed the Holy Alliance to suppress the revolutionary movements in Europe, which he saw as immoral threats to legitimate Christian monarchs.
Emerald and Diamond Pendant
Estimated: 10,000 – 15,000 EUR
Formerly in the collection of the Countess Mirafiori and Fontanafredda
An Emerald and Diamond Pendant, decorated with a pear shaped emerald drop enclosed to an open work rose-cut diamond cup surmounted by an old mine diamond, pending to a brooch modelled as little wings set with cushion- and rose-cut diamonds, circa 1870, formerly in the collection of the Countess Mirafiori and Fontanafredda, the morganatic wife of King Victor Emmanuel II of Italy.
Fabergé Cigarette Case
Estimated: 10,000 – 15,000 EUR
From the estate of a Distinguished Collector
A Fabergé Imperial Presentation Jeweled Varicoloured Gold And Gunmetal Cigarette Case, workmaster August Hollming, St Petersburg, 1904-1908, body reeded on a diagonal, the cover applied with a gunmetal anchor interlaced with the diamond-set Imperial crowned cypher for Grand Duke Alexei Alexandrovich (1850-1908),
Grand Duke Alexei was the forth son of Emperor Alexander II and the uncle of Nicholas II. The intertwined anchor in his cypher reflects the fact that he was General Admiral and Commander-in-chief of the Russian naval forces between 1883-1905.
Sapphire and Diamond Ring
Estimated: 3,000 – 5,000 EUR
Property of a Noble Family
A Sapphire and Diamond Ring decorated with a old European cut sapphire surrounded by rose-cut diamonds.
Sapphire Bracelet and a Corundum Ring
Estimated: 5,000 – 7,000 EUR
Property of a Noble Family
A Sapphire Bracelet and a Corundum Ring, decorated with a sapphire engraved with a coat of arms, ring size 53, bracelet modeled as a flexible snake and decorated with a corundum.
Pearl and Diamond Necklace and Ear Clips
Estimated: 5,000 – 7,000 EUR
Property of a Noble Family
A Pearl and Diamond Necklace and Ear Clips, each ear clip modeled as a wing with a cultured pearl within circular-cut diamond, the necklace designed with a graduated single row of cultured and natural pearls to a rose-cut diamond clasp.
Sapphire Evening Bag
Estimated: 5,000 – 6,000 EUR
Property of a Noble Family
A Sapphire Evening Bag of two colour gold tone and woven mesh design, the clasp set with a cabochon sapphire.
Sapphire and Diamond Bracelet
Estimated: 5,000 – 7,000 EUR
Property of a Noble Family
A Sapphire and Diamond Bracelet, designed with an open work embroidered band, entirely decorated with cushion-shaped diamonds alternating with step-cut, cushion and oval-shaped sapphires surrounded by single-cut diamonds.
Sapphire and Diamond Pendant
Estimated: 5,000 – 7,000 EUR
Property of a Noble Family
A Sapphire and Diamond Pendant modelled as a drop of open work design set at the center with an oval-shaped sapphire surrounded by circular-, single- and rose-cut diamond.
Diamond Studs Earrings
Estimated: 7,000 – 12,000 EUR
Property of a Noble Family
A pair of Diamond Studs Earrings, each decorated with an old mine diamond measuring respectively 8.9x 8.9x 5mm approximately.
Diamond Clip/Necklace/Tiara
Estimated: 20,000 – 30,000 EUR
From the Collection of Countess Marina Cicogna
A Diamond Clip/Necklace/Tiara composed of nine open work geometrical elements, entirely decorated with circular-, baguette-, whistle- and trapezoid shaped diamonds to detachable fittings to be worn as clips and two as a pair of ear clips, missing tiara and necklace settings.
Diamond Brooch
Estimated: 5,000 – 6,000 EUR
From the Collection of Countess Marina Cicogna
A Diamond Brooch modelled as a feather entirely enhanced with brilliant-, circular- and baguette cut diamonds to an open work.
Pink Spinel and Diamond Ring and A Compact
Estimated: 6,000 – 7,000 EUR
Property of a Noble Family
A Pink Spinel and Diamond Ring and A Compact, the ring decorated to the front with a circular-cut diamond and a pink sapphire, the compact of square and bombé design with a wave border, decorated with a coat of arms depicting a snake with a sword in its mouth, opening to reveal a mirror and a powder compartment, signed Gioielleria Castelli.
Diamond Brooches and A Bracelet
Estimated: 8,000 – 10,000 EUR
From the Collection of Countess Marina Cicogna
Diamond Brooches and A Bracelet, composed of five geometrical clips, decorated with circular- and huit huit cut diamonds, two can be worn as ear clips, one diamond deficient, a similarly set bracelet, and a brooch modelled as ears of wheat enhanced with old mine- , cushion and circular-cut diamonds.
Three-Tone Gold Necklace
Estimated: 5,000 – 6,000 EUR
Property of a Noble Family
A Three-Tone Gold Necklace designed as a flexible band of half moons realized with three color matte gold.
Coral, Emerald and Diamond Necklace
Estimated: 15,000 – 20,000 EUR
Property of a Noble Family
A Cannilla for Masenza Coral, Emerald and Diamond Necklace decorated with five graduated rows of coral facetted beads enhanced with two lion masks, with brilliant-cut diamond eyes and circular-cut emerald crowns, signed Cannilla, Masenza Roma.
Gold Compact
Estimated: 5,000 – 7,000 EUR
Property of a Noble Family
A Cannilla for Masenza Gold Compact of circular shape and entirely modelled with Cannilla sculptural motifs, opening to reveal a mirror signed Cannilla, MASENZA ROMA.
Coral Bangle
Estimated: 5,000 – 7,000 EUR
Property of a Noble Family
A pair os Coral Bangles each designed with a bangle further enhanced with charms decorated with corals and one modelled as an aries.
Pearl, Sapphire and Diamond Necklaces
Estimated: 5,000 – 6,000 EUR
From the Collection of Countess Marina Cicogna
Two Pearl, Sapphire and Diamond Necklaces, each necklace decorated with three cultured pear rows from 6.5 to 10mm and from 8.4 to 8.9mm approximately, clasp modeled as butterfly, body and wings set with oval shaped sapphire cabochon to brilliant-cut and huit huit diamond.
Diamond Brooch and Earrings
Estimated: 5,000 – 7,000 EUR
From the Collection of Countess Marina Cicogna
A Diamond Brooch and Earrings, with ear clips designed as flowers enhanced with navette, tapered baguette and brilliant-cut diamonds, the brooch modeled as a star entirely enhanced with brilliant-cut diamonds.
Van Cleef & Arpels Sapphire and Diamond Ear Clips
Estimated: 5,000 – 7,000 EUR
From the Collection of Countess Marina Cicogna
A pair of Van Cleef & Arpels Sapphire and Diamond Ear Clips, each modelled with flowerheads enhanced with oval cabochon sapphire framed by brilliant-cut diamonds, signed Van Cleef & Arpels.
David Webb Enamel and Diamond Necklace
Estimated: 7,000 – 10,000 EUR
From the Collection of Countess Marina Cicogna
A David Webb Enamel and Diamond Necklace, designed as a graduated collar, pavé-set with brilliant-cut diamonds within black enamel frames, signed Webb.
