Natural pearl necklace, early 20th Century

Designed as a long row of natural pearls, graduating from approximately 4.5mm to 7.3mm, between seed pearl spacers, length approximately 1,620mm, accompanied by a red Morocco gilt tooled leather coil case.

These pearls were formerly in the collection of Viscountess D'Abernon; in the portrait (illustrated above) by John Singer Sargent, the Viscountess is wearing similar opera length pearls.

Please refer to report from The Precious Stone Laboratory for details on the pearls. Creamy white to white colour, light pink and greenish overtones, some minor blemishes and overgrowth marks, overall good lustre. The stones on the clasp are not diamonds. Signs of normal wear to the metal, scratches consistent with use, in good condition. Helen Venetia Vincent, Viscountess D'Abernon (1866 - 1954) was the daughter of William Duncombe, 1st Earl of Feversham, Ryedale and Mabel Violet Graham, born at their estate of Duncombe Park, Helmsley, North Yorkshire, England. The Duncombe sisters, including Helen herself, were all known as famous society beauties of the day; Hermione, later Duchess of Leinster; Cynthia, later Lady Cynthia Graham; and Ulrica, later Lady Ulrica Baring. Helen married Sir Edgar Vincent, then Governor of the Imperial Ottoman Bank in Constantinople, on 24th September, 1890. In 1899 he was elected a Member of Parliament for Exeter, in 1914 he was created 1st Baron Lord D'Abernon, by the early 1920s he was British Ambassador to the Weimar Republic in Poland and later British Ambassador in Rome. At the end of his diplomatic postings, Sir Edgar was elevated to 1st Viscount D'Abernon on 1 January 1926, and succeeded his brother Francis, as 16th Baronet of Stoke d'Abernon. Lady Helen, was widely known to be an excellent hostess; her obituary in The Times was headed, 'Last of the great Edwardian hostesses'. She was associated with 'the Souls', a salon of noted intellectuals of the day which included Arthur Balfour, George Curzon, Lady Desborough and Lady Elcho. The D'Abernons' house at Esher Place was the scene of many social events as was their time overseas, when they for example held a costume ball on the banks of the Bosphorous in Turkey, Lady D'Abernon went as Marie Antoinette and Lord D'Abernon as Louis XVI. Literary tributes to Lady Helen are believed to be included in the fiction of Max Beerbohm and Maurice Baring. Lady Helen looked like the lady in the Sensitive Plant: A lady, the wonder of her kind Whose form was upborne by a lovely mind Which, dilating, had moulded her mien and motion Like a sea-flower unfolded beneath the ocean. (Maurice Baring, in a letter, September 1915) " The most beautiful woman I have ever known, utterly unspoilt, simple, selfless, gay, brave and kind." Aga Khan, quoted in A History of the Manor of Stoke D'Abernon, produced for the Parkside School which now occupies the house, this was the original D'Abernon home bought back by Lord D'Abernon in 1933 after Esher Place in London had been given to the Ragged School Union and the estate sold for development. Lady Helen had no children and thus the titles ceased on her husband Lord D'Abernon's death in 1941. Cf: Emma Letley, Maurice Baring: A Citizen of Europe, Constable 1991, p.64 reference to the Baring quote. Footer to image: Portrait of Lady Helen Vincent, Viscountess D'Abernon, John Singer Sargent (1856-1925), Venice, 1904, Birmingham Museum of Art, Birmingham Alabama, USA.
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Please note that colour, clarity and weight of gemstones are statements of opinion only and not statements of fact by Sotheby's. We do not guarantee, and are not responsible for any certificate from a gemological laboratory that may accompany the property. We do not guarantee that watches are in working order. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue, in particular to the Notice regarding the treatment and condition of gemstones and to the Notice regarding import of Burmese jadeite and rubies into the US.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD "AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

Helen Venetia Vincent, Viscountess D'Abernon (1866 - 1954) was the daughter of William Duncombe, 1st Earl of Feversham, Ryedale and Mabel Violet Graham, born at their estate of Duncombe Park, Helmsley, North Yorkshire, England.  The Duncombe sisters, including Helen herself, were all known as famous society beauties of the day; Hermione, later Duchess of Leinster; Cynthia, later Lady Cynthia Graham; and Ulrica, later Lady Ulrica Baring.

Helen married Sir Edgar Vincent, then Governor of the Imperial Ottoman Bank in Constantinople, on 24^th September, 1890. In 1899 he was elected a Member of Parliament for Exeter, in 1914 he was created 1st Baron Lord D'Abernon, by the early 1920s he was British Ambassador to the Weimar Republic in Poland and later British Ambassador in Rome.  At the end of his diplomatic postings, Sir Edgar was elevated to 1st Viscount D'Abernon on 1 January 1926, and succeeded his brother Francis, as 16th Baronet of Stoke d'Abernon.

Lady Helen, was widely known to be an excellent hostess; her obituary in The Times was headed, 'Last of the great Edwardian hostesses'. She was associated with 'the Souls', a salon of noted intellectuals of the day which included Arthur Balfour, George Curzon, Lady Desborough and Lady Elcho.  The D'Abernons' house at Esher Place was the scene of many social events as was their time overseas, when they for example held a costume ball on the banks of the Bosphorous in Turkey, Lady D'Abernon went as Marie Antoinette and Lord D'Abernon as Louis XVI.

Literary tributes to Lady Helen are believed to be included in the fiction of Max Beerbohm and Maurice Baring.   

Lady Helen looked like the lady in the Sensitive Plant:

                            A lady, the wonder of her kind
                            Whose form was upborne by a lovely mind
                            Which, dilating, had moulded her mien and motion
                             Like a sea-flower unfolded beneath the ocean.

(Maurice Baring, in a letter, September 1915)

" The most beautiful woman I have ever known, utterly unspoilt, simple, selfless, gay, brave and kind." Aga Khan, quoted in A History of the Manor of Stoke D'Abernon, produced for the Parkside School which now occupies the house, this was the original D'Abernon home bought back by Lord D'Abernon in 1933 after Esher Place in London had been given to the Ragged School Union and the estate sold for development.  Lady Helen had no children and thus the titles ceased on her husband Lord D'Abernon's death in 1941.

Cf: Emma Letley, Maurice Baring: A Citizen of Europe, Constable 1991, p.64 reference to the Baring quote.