Vienna 1900: An Imperial and Royal Collection
Vienna 1900: An Imperial and Royal Collection
From the Collection of Princess Marie Louise of Bourbon-Parma, Princess Consort of Bulgaria (1870-1899)
Gem set and diamond comb, 1890s
Auction Closed
November 7, 12:14 PM GMT
Estimate
28,000 - 45,000 CHF
Lot Details
Description
From the Collection of Princess Marie Louise of Bourbon-Parma, Princess Consort of Bulgaria (1870-1899)
Gem set and diamond comb, 1890s
Designed as a gold openwork crown, decorated with clusters composed of circular-cut and cushion-shaped diamonds, cushion-shaped and oval rubies as well as step-cut and cushion-shaped emeralds within cushion-shaped diamond borders, enhanced with seed pearls, Austrian maker's and assay marks for gold, fitted case stamped Franz Syré & Co.
Princess Maria Pia of Bourbon-Two Sicilies, Duchess of Parma (1849-1882) or the City of Tarnovo
Princess Marie Louise of Bourbon-Parma, Princess Consort of Bulgaria (1870-1899)
Princess Nadezhda of Bulgaria, Duchess of Württemberg (1899-1958)
This comb was part of the estate of Princess Marie Louise of Bourbon-Parma, Princess Consort of Bulgaria (1870-1899) and was bequeathed to her youngest daughter, Princess Nadezhda of Bulgaria (1899-1958). The note attesting to the provenance has two sides. One side explains that the stones were heirlooms from the Neapolitan dynasty of Bourbon-Two Sicilies probably via Princess Marie Louise's mother Princess Maria Pia of Bourbon-Two Sicilies, Duchess of Parma (1849-1882) and were reset in this comb. The other side explains how the City of Tarnovo, ancient capital of the Second Bulgarian Empire, gifted this comb in Byzantine style to Princess Marie Louise of Bourbon-Parma as a wedding gift in 1893. Every Bulgarian Crown Prince is styled as Prince of Tarnovo.