Pair of sapphire and diamond earrings, early 19th century and later, and a gold wedding band | 藍寶石及鑽石耳環一對，19世紀及之後；黃金結婚戒指一枚

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Auction Closed

November 9, 08:04 PM GMT

Estimate

30,000 - 50,000 CHF

Lot Details

Description

Formerly in the Collection of Stéphanie de Beauharnais, Grand Duchess of Baden

Pair of sapphire and diamond earrings, early 19th century and later, and a gold wedding band

藍寶石及鑽石耳環一對，19世紀及之後；黃金結婚戒指一枚

Each set with a cushion-shaped sapphire within a circular-cut diamond frame, on a later oval sapphire surmount, clip and screw back fittings; and a polished gold wedding band, size 65, inscribed G.G.G. Luise .d.9 Novbr. 1830.

Accompanied by SSEF report no. 125145, stating that the sapphires are of Ceylon origin, with no indications of heating.

Stéphanie de Beauharnais, Grand Duchess of Baden (1789-1860)

Princess Louise of Baden, Princess Vasa (1811-1854)

Princess Carola Vasa, Queen of Saxony (1833-1907)

Princess Marie of Hohenzollern-Sigmaringen, Countess of Flanders (1845-1912)

Princess Henriette of Belgium, Duchess of Vendôme (1870-1948)

Cf.: Christophe Vachaudez, Koninklijke Juwelen, Brussels, 2004, pg. 85–89, for a description of the inheritance of Queen Carola of Saxony and the collection of Henriette of Belgium, Duchess of Vendôme.

This rare pair of early 19th century sapphire and diamond earrings originally belonged to Stéphanie de Beauharnais (1789-1860). She was a niece by marriage of the Empress Joséphine as well as the adopted daughter of Napoleon Bonaparte. Her marriage to Charles, Grand Duke of Baden (1786-1818) sealed Napoleon’s alliance with the monarchies of Southern Germany. Napoleon’s generosity in bestowing magnificent parures upon his female relatives is well recorded. Marie-Étienne Nitot, precursor to Chaumet, was Napoleon’s jeweller of preference. A comparable pair of sapphire earrings is part of the sapphire and diamond parure offered as a gift by Empress Josephine to her daughter-in-law, Princess Augusta of Bavaria (1788-1851), Duchess of Leuchtenberg, consort of Eugène de Beauharnais. The Leuchtenberg sapphires are part of the Swedish royal collection. The stylistic similarities and provenance might lead one to suspect the earrings offered in this sale are linked to Nitot as well.

Stéphanie de Beauharnais’ oldest daughter Louise of Baden (1811-1854) married Gustav, Prince of Vasa, a son of the deposed Swedish King Gustav IV. To this lot we join the wedding band of Louise of Baden used to celebrate her marriage in 1830 in Karlsruhe. She received these sapphire earrings from her mother and in turn bequeathed them to her daughter Carola Vasa (1833-1907) who became Queen of Saxony through her marriage to King Albert of Saxony (1828-1902). The Saxon royal couple sadly remained childless. Queen Carola was very close to her cousin Marie of Hohenzollern-Sigmaringen, Countess of Flanders (1845-1912) to whom she gifted and testated several pieces of jewellery with a provenance of their shared grand-mother, Stéphanie de Beauharnais. In turn, the sapphire earrings joined the collection of the Countess of Flanders’ daughter Princess Henriette of Belgium, Duchess of Vendôme (1870-1948) who married into the Orléans branch of the French royal family. The Duchess of Vendôme was a prominent figure in Parisian society during the Belle Epoque, entertaining lavishly at her house in Neuilly.

An extract from Mellerio’s archive dated to 1927 shows reparations executed for the Duchess of Vendôme. One item is described as a pair of sapphire and diamond earrings with mounts for non-pierced ears which seems to correspond exactly to the earrings offered here.

We would like to thank Xavier Dufestel for his help in drafting the historical record of this jewel.