Diamond Rivière, Mid 19th Century

Estimate

80,000 - 110,000 CHF

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Description

Designed as a graduated row of forty circular-cut and cushion-shaped diamonds, mounted in cut-down collets, length approximately 365mm, mounted in silver and gold, pendant fitting, original fitted case, embossed with the coronet of a Baron and H for the 4th Lord Hawke and The Womersley Collet Necklace. Accompanied by an original handwritten note about the necklace.

Catalogue Note

This jewel is referred to by the family as the 'Womersley Collet Necklace' which was by family tradition thought to have been purchased along with a ring by the 4th Lord Hawke with some money gifted to him when a branch of the Great Northern Railway line was built through his Yorkshire estate, Womersley Park. By the end of the 1850s, the Great Northern Railway (initially called the London and York Railway) had gained access to most of West Yorkshire.

This necklace was given by Lord and Lady Hawke to their only daughter Frances Cassandra on the occasion of her marriage to Lawrence the 4th Earl of Rosse on 1st September 1870 and thence by descent to the 7th Earl and Countess who themselves gifted it to their daughter Lady Alicia on her marriage in 2007.