THE PROPERTY OF THE LATE DOWAGER LADY CAMOYS
Most of the jewellery in the collection of the late Dowager Lady Camoys was passed down several generations and their provenance is often both charming and historically interesting.
The earliest pieces belonged to Julia, Lady Peel, the wife of the Prime Minister Sir Robert Peel. Amongst her property was an amethyst brooch surrounded by diamonds, which is depicted in her portrait by Sir Thomas Lawrence - now in the Frick Collection, New York - pinned to the brim of her feather hat. It was later converted into a ring.
Her daughter Elise, who married the Hon. Francis Stonor, was appointed first Lady in Waiting to Princess Alexandra of Denmark on her arrival in England, to marry Edward, Prince of Wales - later Edward Vll. Elise became one of Queens Alexandra's best friends. Francis and Elise Stonor died young, within eighteen months of each other. The Prince and the Princess of Wales adopted the four children Francis Robert, Henry, Julia and Edward Alexander Stonor, who grew up as brothers and sisters to their own children.
Julia Stonor became engaged to George, Duke of York, but this engagement was broken off on the death of Prince Edward, Duke of Clarence, because she was a Roman Catholic. Edward Vll subsequently arranged her marriage to Fernand, Marquis D'Hautpol and granted her the title and rank equivalent to the English Marchioness. Her links with the Royal Family remained close until 1950 when she died childless, and it was Queen Mary and the late Lady Camoys who cleared her belongings and letters after her death. Queen Mary died a year after her, and Julia's treasures were returned to Sandringham, except for those which she had left to the late Lady Camoys. Jeanne Stourton married Ralph Robert Watts Stonor, 6th Baron Camoys. From 1931-1934 she was secretary to Austin Chamberlain and also became personal assistant to the heiress Barbara Hutton, when she was in England, and by her generosity several valuable pieces of jewellery were added to the collection. It is a part of this jewellery collection, which belonged to Jeanne Stonor, the late Dowager Lady Camoys, that is offered for sale today and to which good taste and deep emotions have contributed over generations.
A triangular wooden brooch inscribed "Jeanne", by Reynolds Stone, stamped on the back B. A. Oxley, 48 Thames Street, Windsor.
Details
A triangular wooden brooch inscribed "Jeanne", by Reynolds Stone, stamped on the back B. A. Oxley, 48 Thames Street, Windsor.
Made for the Hon. Mrs Sherman Stonor (the late Dowager Lady Camoys) during the 1939-45 war. Similar brooches were made for Mrs John Betjeman, Mrs John Piper, Mrs Reynolds Stone, also for Benjamin Britten, John Piper and Sir Thomas Kendrick, Director of the British Museum 1950-9, Keeper of Medieval and Later Antiquities 1938-50.
Reynolds Stone (1909-79), wood engraver.
Made for the Hon. Mrs Sherman Stonor (the late Dowager Lady Camoys) during the 1939-45 war. Similar brooches were made for Mrs John Betjeman, Mrs John Piper, Mrs Reynolds Stone, also for Benjamin Britten, John Piper and Sir Thomas Kendrick, Director of the British Museum 1950-9, Keeper of Medieval and Later Antiquities 1938-50.
Reynolds Stone (1909-79), wood engraver.