Platinum and Diamond Tiara, Designed by Marianne Ostier for Oesterreicher, Wien

Estimate

30,000 - 50,000 USD

Sold

bidding is closed

Description

platinum, diamond

Depicting the Albanian royal crest of the 'Ram of Skanderberg' atop a graduated floral vine, set with old European and single-cut diamonds weighing approximately 28.05 carats, accented by baguette diamonds weighing approximately 4.80 carats; circa 1938. With signed and fitted royal presentation box.

Provenance

Formerly in the Collection of Queen Geraldine of Albania.

Literature

Jewels and the Woman: The Romance, Magic and Art of Feminine Adornment by Marianne Ostier, pages 109 and 222.

From Sultan or Store, Tiara Can Be Woman's Crowning Glory, Enid Nemy, The New York Times, April 12, 1970.

Catalogue Note

Designed by Marianne Ostier for Oesterreicher, later to become Ostier, Inc. of New York, this tiara was created for the marriage of Queen Geraldine and King Zog I of Albania in 1938. Born in Budapest, Geraldine was known as 'The White Rose of Hungary;' and so this floral design topped by the Albanian royal crest was the perfect ornament for the royal ceremony. As Marianne Ostier recalled in her 1958 book Jewels and the Woman, the tiara was, '...a decorative and distinctive diamond crown for the decorative and distinguished Queen Geraldine.'

Elmer Holmes Bobst gifted this tiara to Mamdouha in 1966, as he saw it as the perfect jewel to be worn to the White House at a dinner being held in his honor. According to friends of the Bobsts, Mamdouha wore her finest jewels when invited to events as she viewed this as the ultimate compliment to a host or hostess.