A SOLID PLATINUM AQUAMARINE AND DIAMOND NECKLACE

Christie's charges a Buyer's premium calculated at… Read more

The property of a lady of title Gifts have always played an important role in the way monarchs presented themselves to the external world. They were used to secure the loyalty of the recipient, award him or her for special services and commit the receiver to the court. Emperor Wilhelm II of Germany (Potsdam 1859-Doorn 1941) was King of Prussia and Emperor of the German Empire in a period in which major scientifical, technological and industrial developments took place. However he hardly ever chose industrial products for his gifts in order to obtain importance in the diplomatic circle to get on terms with other European monarchs. He had a taste for more conservative art and preffered the applied arts, as these objects, along with their esthetical values, also flaunted the achievements of the Prussian-German industry. Already in the early 19th Century King Friedrich Wilhelm of Prussia supported the silver-and goldsmith's trade, which had suffered severely from the French occupation and the following liberation war. At his personal recommendation silversmith Johan Georg Hossauer (1794-1874) establised a workshop in Berlin. It was largely due to Hossauer that Berlin became a major centre for silversmiths that could measure up to such countries as France and England. In 1826 he was appointed Goldschmied Sr. Majestat des Konigs, a title which he continued to bear under the reign of King Friedrich Wilhelm IV. It is very likely that lot 177, the gold and diamond bangle commissioned by the King, came from the workshop of Hossauer. The commissions of Emperor Wilhelm also helped to raise the quality of the applied arts to a higher level. The majority of the emperor's presents were china and majolica. Besides, the Emperor regularly presented photographs of himself in hand-made leather frames. Objects of silver and gold, like lot 175, only played a minor role amongst the Emeror's presents. Amongst the 319 imperial presents Margerate Jarchow examined only one case with smoking requisites is mentioned. This case was commissioned from Hofjuwelier Wagner & Sohn as a birthday present for Prince Heinrich in 1891. Wagner & Sohn was appointed Jeweller to the Court in 1824 and was located at 30 Unten den Linden in Berlin from 1869 onwards. Literature: Jarchow, Margerate, Hofgeschenke Wilhelm II. Zwischen Diplomatie und Dynastie 1888-1914, Regensburg, 1998 Exh. Cat. Gold und Silber fur den Koning, Johann George Hossauer-"Goldschmied Sr. Majestat des Konigs", Berlin, Schloss Scharlottenburg, 1998 Scheffer, Wolfgang, Berliner Goldschmiede. Daten, Werken, Zeigen, Berlin, 1968, no. 1819a, p.426 We would like to thank Mrs. M. Anagnostou-de Jongen, MA for her contribution

Details

A SOLID PLATINUM AQUAMARINE AND DIAMOND NECKLACE
The front composed of a rectangular-cut aquamarine within a frame of circular-cut diamonds to a heavy platinum chain of flat loop-in-loop linking, length 50 cm

Special notice

Christie's charges a Buyer's premium calculated at 20.825% of the hammer price for each lot with a value up to €90,000 (NLG 198.334). If the hammer price of a lot exceeds €90,000 then the hammer price of a lot is calculated at 20.825% of the first €90,000 plus 11.9% of any amount in excess of €90,000. Buyer's Premium is calculated on this basis for each lot individually.

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