Formerly in the Collection of Baroness Barracco (1860-1941)
Charming Diamond Tiara
Auction Closed
November 12, 02:56 PM GMT
Estimate
25,000 - 45,000 CHF
Lot Details
Description
Designed as a graduated series of detachable flowerhead motifs on a scalloped base, set throughout with old mine-cut diamonds, accented by rose-cut diamonds, inner circumference approximately 220mm; circa 1880 with later alterations.
Baroness Barracco (1860-1941)
Thence by descent
Baroness Barracco (1860-1941)
The aristocrat Signora Balbi Seranega (1860-1941) was born as the daughter of Marques Francesco Maria Piovera, a Genovese patrician who served as a senator after the Unification of Italy in 1861. Her mother Maria Maddalena was born into the ancient Genovese Pallavicini family.
Ms Balbi Seranega married Baron Roberto Barracco (1836-1917) who was likewise an Italian senator and patrician of Cosenza. Together the couple had four children: Maria, Francesco, Luigi and Chiara. The Barracco family is a noble house with roots in Southern Italy which in the early 19th century was part of the Kingdom of the Two Sicilies ruled by the Bourbon dynasty. The family was among Italy's richest landowners with extensive estates in Calabria and historical residences in Naples, Crotone and Rome.
Roberto’s brother Giovanni (1829-1914) was likewise a senator. Giovanni’s passion for collecting ancient Roman and Near-Eastern artefacts lead to his founding the Museo di Scultura Antica which he gifted to the city of Rome in 1904. Today it still houses his collection. Giovanni was furthermore a close acquaintance of Queen Margherita of Italy (1851-1926), while the Baroness held the function of lady-in-waiting to the Queen.