Carnelian, enamel and gold parure, circa 1805, some glyptics possibly ancient

Auction Closed

December 7, 11:28 AM GMT

Estimate

200,000 - 300,000 GBP

Lot Details

Description

Property from a private British Collection - Lots 1 – 15

From an Important Private Collection

Carnelian, enamel and gold parure

circa 1805, some glyptics possibly ancient

Comprising: a diadem, designed as a row of interlinked circle motifs decorated with blue champlevé enamel, entwined by an openwork ribbon decorated with scroll and foliate motifs and set with twenty-five carnelian intaglios, predominantly of male and female classical heads including philosophers, Roman Princes, Cupid driving a quadriga, goats, a lion devouring prey, an eagle, Jupiter Serapis and scenes of sacrifice, each within a border of enamel, inner circumference approximately 410mm; a pair of pendent earrings, each set with a single intaglio and similarly decorated, later screw fittings; a hair comb, and a belt ornament, the centre set with a carnelian cameo of Ariadne, original fitted case.

By tradition Joséphine Bonaparte, Empress of France (1763- 1814);

Possibly acquired from the Empress Joséphine (or her estate) by Lord Edward Lascelles, “ Beau Lascelles” (1764-1814);

Thence by descent to his grand-niece Catherine, Mrs Granville Edwin Lloyd-Baker (1841-1890);

Thence by family descent to the present owner

For further research and illustrations of this lot please see:

Claire Phillip, Jewels and Jewellery, England, 2019, pg. 72-74

Shirley Bury, Jewellery 1789-1910, Volume I 1789-1861, England, 1991, pg. 166

Geoffrey Munn, Tiaras A History of Splendour, England, 2001, pg. 36-37

Mémoires de Mlle. Avrillion, première femme de chambre de l’Imperatrice, ed. Maurice Dernelle, (1986)

De Pompeii à Malmaison: Les Antiques de l’Impératrice Joséphine Exhibition catalogue, Malmaison 2009

France in Russia: Joséphine’s Malmaison Collection Exhibition Catalogue, Courtauld Institute, London 2007

An Englishman in Paris, 1803, Journal of Bertie Greatheed, eds. J. Bury & J, Barry (1953)

London, Victoria and Albert Museum, on long term loan. (ref: LOAN:MET ANON.97&A-1968)