Life is Beautiful: London

Life is Beautiful: London

View full screen - View 1 of Lot 88. Gold, enamel, ruby and diamond picture frame, 2000.

From the collection of Lady Sarah Aspinall

Gold, enamel, ruby and diamond picture frame, 2000

Lot Closed

September 9, 03:23 PM GMT

Estimate

3,000 - 4,000 GBP

Lot Details

Description

Designed as a foldable picture frame, the front depicting an image of a colonnaded house inscribed 'Howletts', within a brilliant-cut diamond border, the surround decorated with scrolling motifs, cabochon rubies and the letters J, A and S, the reverse engraved to depict a large house, inscribed 'Noordhoek Manor', the interior decorated with turquoise guilloché enamel and glazed to reveal two photos of John Aspinall and Damian Aspinall, further inscribed 'John Aspinall 1926-2000/For Sally, who looked after Papa so well, his closest companion/I am so grateful, I will always protect you. With much love, Damian', British assay mark and sponsor's mark.

Howletts is an 18th century house near Canterbury, Kent purchased by John Aspinall in the late 1950s. Aspinall went onto establish a wild animal park on the estate. Aspinall also acquired land in Noordhoek, Cape Town, South Africa.

Lady Sarah Aspinall (née Curzon), born in 1945, was the daughter of Francis Curzon, 5th Earl Howe (1884-1964), five times British motor racing champion and winner of Le Man and Mille Miglia. The world of motor sport was a consistent theme in her life when in 1966 she went onto marry the racing driver Piers Courage (1942-1970) with whom she had two children. Their wedding was a society highlight and is well remembered for the iconic image of Lady Aspinall with her veil being dramatically blown behind her in the wind. Sadly, Courage’s life prematurely came to an end in a devastating crash at the 1970 Dutch F1 Grand Prix, caused by an engine malfunction. Life continued with her second husband John Aspinall (1926-2000), zoo owner and gambling host, whom she met through parties hosted at Aspinall’s house, Howletts. Her marriage saw her care not only for her children but for the exotic animals populating Howletts and Port Lympne, his two zoos. Aspinall passed away in 2000 from cancer. The Aspinall Foundation continues his work in the promotion of wildlife conservation.