Historical pair of diamond bracelets, late 19th century

The Thurn und Taxis Collection, Sotheby's Geneva, 17 November 1992, lot 284 where this pair of bracelets was offered together with a matching choker.

The Princes von Thurn und Taxis

The immense wealth of the Thurn und Taxis family springs from the postal network which it operated throughout the Holy Roman Empire between the late 15th and early 19th centuries. 

Francisco de Tasso (Franz von Taxis, 1459-1517), a native of Bergamo, set up a postal service between Milan and Innsbruck for Emperor Maximilian I. Following its success, the Emperor invited him to come to Brussels, then the de facto capital of the Habsburg lands, to build a postal network allowing faster communication within the ever-expanding Habsburg domains. A letter could reach Brussels from Vienna in only five and a half days, Southern Spain could be reached in fifteen days, while a courier service between Brussels and Paris only took a mere forty-four hours. The family received the hereditary title of Imperial Postmasters thus cementing their monopoly for centuries to come. The revenus from these enterprises allowed them to accrue one of the largest fortunes in Europe.

In 1608, the Thurn und Taxis were elevated to the rank of reichsunmittelbare Counts of the Holy Roman Empire, before obtaining the Princely title in 1695. The Reichsunmittelbarkeit signified that they were of equal status to all the ruling houses of Europe. 

In the 18th century, the headquarters of the Imperial postal services were moved from Brussels to Frankfurt, ending the family’s centuries-long residency in the low countries. The family’s connection with the Bavarian town of Regensburg started in 1748. In 1753, they acquired the former Benedictine monastery Schloss St. Emmeram as their principal residence. In the early 19th century, a new wing was added, almost doubling the castle’s surface area. St. Emmeram stands as one of the largest and most magnificent palaces in Europe. 

Albert von Thurn und Taxis (1867–1952) married Archduchess Margarete Klementine of Austria (1870-1955) in Budapest on 15 July 1890. Through her mother, Princess Clothilde of Sachsen-Coburg and Gotha-Kohary, she was a granddaughter of Princess Clémentine of Orléans (1817-1907) and thus a niece of Ferdinand I, Tsar of Bulgaria. Albert and Margarete Klementine had seven children together. She was also a gifted artist and much beloved for her philanthropic activities. Throughout her life, Margarete Klementine frequently wore the extensive Thurn und Taxis jewellery collection. 

In November 1992, Sotheby’s Geneva had the honour of offering three-hundred jewels from the Thurn und Taxis Collection in one of the most noteworthy Single Owner Sales within living memory. Highlights included the natural pearl and diamond tiara from the French Crown Jewels now housed at the Louvre, an Empire-era diamond tiara and an impressive and highly important diamond-set girdle centering a bow brooch. This pair of bracelets was offered as lot 284, together with a matching choker. The bracelets are a testimony to the sophistication and magnificence with which the Thurn und Taxis surrounded themselves for centuries.