There are many spectacular Royal and Noble Jewels on Auction this month, with magnificent Jewels from a Princely Family, likely that of the late Princess Margarita of Baden and Yugoslavia, whose Koch Tiara was auctioned at Sotheby’s last month, and a Suite given to the doctor who delivered Queen Victoria are on Auction at the Sotheby’s ‘Noble & Private Collections’ Sale in Cologne later this week.
Sotheby’s Noble & Private Collections | 5 December 2024
Gold And Champlevé Enamel Portrait Miniature Locket
Estimate: 4,000 – 6,000 EUR
Property of a Princely Family
An imperial presentation jewelled gold and champlevé enamel portrait miniature locket, probably Russia, late 18th century, the cover with an enamelled laurel wreath border in green champlevé, the centre chased with a gold sunburst motif over which is applied a diamond-set cypher for Empress Catherine II, the portrait miniature inside painted after Vigilius Ericksen’s Portrait of Catherine the Great Wearing a Kokoshnik, the enamel miniature within a blue champlevé border, indistinctly signed above the Empress’s right shoulder.
Diamond-Set Gold Lorgnettes
Estimate: 2,000 – 3,000 EUR
Property of a Princely Family
A pair of diamond-set gold lorgnettes, probably German or French, circa 1880, both sides richly ornamented with engraved scrollwork, the front applied with a crowned rose-cut diamond-set monogram M, the small lever releasing the lenses, the handle set with a suspension loop with diamond collar.
Gold, Sapphire And Diamond Bracelet
Estimate: 5,000 – 7,000 EUR
Property of a Princely Family
A gold, sapphire and diamond bracelet, Friedrich Koechli, St Petersburg, circa 1890, the gold chain centred with a large sugarloaf sapphire between two diamonds.
Gold, Turquoise And Seed Pearl Hair Pins
Estimate: 5,000 – 7,000 EUR
Property of a Princely Family
A pair of gold, turquoise and seed pearl hair pins, St Petersburg, circa 1890, A pair of gold, turquoise and seed pearl hair pins, St Petersburg, circa 1890.
Two Pendant Watches and a Spherical Ball Pendant Watch On Chain
Estimate: 5,000 – 7,000 EUR
Property of a Princely Family
A set of two pendant watches composed of a Patek Philippe heart shaped pendant watch and a spherical ball pendant watch on chain.
Collection of Jewels
Estimate: 5,000 – 7,000 EUR
Property of a Princely Family
A collection of Jewels, comprising: a fancy-link bracelet of jarretière design, embellished with pearls within an old cushion-shaped diamond surround, length adjustable; a finely engraved fancy-link bracelet decorated with half-pearls, centering a portrait miniature, length approximately 170mm, security chain; a brooch featuring an oval colourised photographic portrait of Princess Maria Maximilianovna of Leuchtenberg, Princess of Baden, within a frame set with opals and old cushion-shaped diamonds; a brooch set with a portrait miniature depicting Marie of Saxe-Altenburg, Queen of Hanover (1818-1907) as a young girl, the reverse featuring a compartment containing a lock of hair and a handwritten note; a brooch featuring a portrait of Joseph, Duke of Saxe-Altenburg (1789-1868); and a brooch decorated with the cipher of Marie of Saxe-Altenburg, Queen of Hanover.,
Ruby And Gold Charka
Estimate: 3,000 – 4,000 EUR
Property of a Princely Family
A ruby and gold charka, St Petersburg, circa 1890, of traditional form with pointed lobes extending upwards on the lower half, the upper half of the body plain polished, a large ruby set onto the handle, carved as a stylised leaf, from Grand Duchess Maria Nikolaevna of Russia.
Gold And Turquoise Demi-Parure And An Enamel Brooch With Locket
Estimate: 5,500 – 7,500 EUR
Gifted to Charlotte von Siebold (1788-1859) on the occasion of the birth of Queen Victoria
Gold and Turquoise demi-parure and an enamel brooch with locket, circa 1820, gifted on the occasion of the birth of Queen Victoria, comprising: a cannetille necklace suspending a pendant designed as a Latin cross set with cabochon turquoises, length approximately 480mm; a pair of pendent earrings of floral design set with cabochon turquoises, pendants detachable; a brooch designed as a knot applied with blue and white enamel accents and a locket of similar design.
These jewels belonged to Charlotte von Siebold (1788-1859) who received them as a present for her help in assisting at the birth of the later Queen Victoria on 24 May 1819. In fact, the locket used to contain locks of hair of both Queen Victoria and her mother Princess Victoria of Saxe-Coburg-Saalfeld, Duchess of Kent (1786-1861).
Charlotte von Siebold was born in Heiligenstadt in 1788. In March 1817, she graduated as a medical doctor from the University of Giessen, only the second German woman to ever graduate into this profession, making her a true trailblazer. Charlotte von Siebold wrote her dissertation about the health risks related to pregnancy and soon the fame of her expertise on deliveries spread across the courts of Europe. She oversaw the birth of the later Queen Victoria in May 1819, and in an ironic twist of fate, she also helped to deliver Queen Victoria’s future husband Prince Albert of Sachsen-Coburg and Gotha. In 1829, Charlotte von Siebold married fellow physician August Andreas Heidenreich. In 1845, The English Royal couple honoured her with a visit in Mainz. She passed away in Darmstadt on 8 July 1859 and soon thereafter a foundation was founded in her honour.
The author Magda Heidenreich was able to substantiate the provenance of this collection of jewels given to Charlotte von Siebold with archival material from the Royal Archive at Windsor Castle for which she received the permission from her Majesty Queen Elisabeth II.
Emerald and Diamond Neck Badge of the Order of the Golden Fleece
Estimate: 80,000 – 120,000 EUR
Property From An Important European Collection
An Emerald and diamond neck badge of the Order of the Golden Fleece, set with an oval, step-cut and circular-cut emerald, embellished with circular- and single-cut diamonds, suspending a textured gold lambskin.
Rosary
Estimate: 7,000 – 9,000 EUR
Formerly in the possession of Sophie Charlotte, Duchess of Alençon, née Duchess in Bavaria
An Italian, probably Rome, late 19th century Rosary formerly in the possession of Sophie Charlotte, Duchess of Alençon, née Duchess in Bavaria (1847-1897) lapis lazuli and gold with a fitted red velvet covered case, the lid applied with three metal fleur-de-lys mounts, its interior stamped: FRATELLI BERETTI / NEGOZIANTI / di Oggetti sacri ecc. / ROMA / Piazza della Minerva, 67, and with a label inscribed: G[?]SAR Madame / La duchesse / d’Alençon.
Duchess Sophie Charlotte in Bavaria (1847-1897) was the favourite sister of Empress Elisabeth of Austria (Sisi) and erstwhile fiancée of King Ludwig II of Bavaria. On 28 September 1868, she married Prince Ferdinand of Orléans, Duke of Alençon (1844-1910), the grandson of the late King Louis Philippe of France (1773-1850), at Possenhofen Castle near Starnberg. Sophie died under tragic and dramatic circumstances during the fire at the Bazar de la Charité in Paris in 1897.
Sotheby’s Noble & Private Collections | 5 December 2024
